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The
parade-ground
had
been
cleared
of
the
waggon
and
its
escort
scarce
twenty
minutes
,
when
a
party
of
somewhat
different
appearance
commenced
assembling
upon
the
same
spot
.
There
were
ladies
on
horseback
;
attended
,
not
by
grooms
,
as
at
the
"
meet
"
in
an
English
hunting-field
,
but
by
the
gentlemen
who
were
to
accompany
them
--
their
friends
and
acquaintances
--
fathers
,
brothers
,
lovers
,
and
husbands
.
Most
,
if
not
all
,
who
had
figured
at
Poindexter
's
dinner
party
,
were
soon
upon
the
ground
.
The
planter
himself
was
present
;
as
also
his
son
Henry
,
his
nephew
Cassius
Calhoun
,
and
his
daughter
Louise
--
the
young
lady
mounted
upon
the
spotted
mustang
,
that
had
figured
so
conspicuously
on
the
occasion
of
the
entertainment
at
Casa
del
Corvo
.
The
affair
was
a
reciprocal
treat
--
a
simple
return
of
hospitality
;
the
major
and
his
officers
being
the
hosts
,
the
planter
and
his
friends
the
invited
guests
.
The
entertainment
about
to
be
provided
,
if
less
pretentious
in
luxurious
appointments
,
was
equally
appropriate
to
the
time
and
place
.
The
guests
of
the
cantonment
were
to
be
gratified
by
witnessing
a
spectacle
--
grand
as
rare
--
a
chase
of
wild
steeds
!
The
arena
of
the
sport
could
only
be
upon
the
wild-horse
prairies
--
some
twenty
miles
to
the
southward
of
Fort
Inge
.
Hence
the
necessity
for
an
early
start
,
and
being
preceded
by
a
vehicle
laden
with
an
ample
commissariat
.
Just
as
the
sunbeams
began
to
dance
upon
the
crystal
waters
of
the
Leona
,
the
excursionists
were
ready
to
take
their
departure
from
the
parade-ground
--
with
an
escort
of
two-score
dragoons
that
had
been
ordered
to
ride
in
the
rear
.
Like
the
party
that
preceded
them
,
they
too
were
provided
with
a
guide
--
not
an
old
backwoodsman
in
battered
felt
hat
,
and
faded
blanket
coat
,
astride
a
scraggy
roadster
;
but
a
horseman
completely
costumed
and
equipped
,
mounted
upon
a
splendid
steed
,
in
every
way
worthy
to
be
the
chaperone
of
such
a
distinguished
expedition
.
"
Come
,
Maurice
!
"
cried
the
major
,
on
seeing
that
all
had
assembled
,
"
we
're
ready
to
be
conducted
to
the
game
.
Ladies
and
gentlemen
!
this
young
fellow
is
thoroughly
acquainted
with
the
haunts
and
habits
of
the
wild
horses
.
If
there
's
a
man
in
Texas
,
who
can
show
us
how
to
hunt
them
,
'
tis
Maurice
the
mustanger
.
"
"
Faith
,
you
flatter
me
,
major
!
"
rejoined
the
young
Irishman
,
turning
with
a
courteous
air
towards
the
company
;
"
I
have
not
said
so
much
as
that
.
I
can
only
promise
to
show
you
where
you
may
find
them
.
"
"
Modest
fellow
!
"
soliloquised
one
,
who
trembled
,
as
she
gave
thought
to
what
she
more
than
half
suspected
to
be
an
untruth
.
