The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse

1882 · 32 pages

Museum Catalog Note This issue of Beadle & Adams' popular edition (Vol. XVII, November 22, 1882) features the opening of Captain Mayne Reid's "The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse." The serial begins with the narrator, a captain of American Rangers, observing a Mexican frontier village on the Rio Bravo from the alcalde's rooftop. Reid provides extensive ethnographic description of the Rangers—a heterogeneous force of backwoods hunters, Texans, and adventurers from various American regions and European nations, characterized by their varied weapons and motley costumes. The narrative introduces a military situation: the Rangers are dispatched to guard the village against Comanche raids while occupying Mexican territory. The first dramatic action involves the pursuit of a young Mexican horseman on a cream-colored mustang, whom the captain pursues rather than shoot, viewing him as "game too noble" to be killed. The chase leads through milpas toward a maguey hedge barrier.

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 1 of 32 — 1 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 2 of 32 — 2 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 3 of 32 — 3 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 4 of 32 — 4 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 5 of 32 — 5 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 6 of 32 — 6 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 7 of 32 — 7 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 8 of 32 — 8 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 9 of 32 — 9 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 10 of 32 — 10 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 11 of 32 — 11 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 12 of 32 — 12 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 13 of 32 — 13 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 14 of 32 — 14 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 15 of 32 — 15 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 16 of 32 — 16 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 17 of 32 — 17 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 18 of 32 — 18 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 19 of 32 — 19 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 20 of 32 — 20 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 21 of 32 — 21 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 22 of 32 — 22 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 23 of 32 — 23 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 24 of 32 — 24 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 25 of 32 — 25 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 26 of 32 — 26 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 27 of 32 — 27 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 28 of 32 — 28 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 29 of 32 — 29 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 30 of 32 — 30 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 31 of 32 — 31 / 32

The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse — page 32 of 32 — 32 / 32