The Texan Star & The Texan Scouts are historical action adventure novels. The story is set in the early stages of the Texas revolution. Stephen Austin and his young friend Ned begin the adventure of traveling back to Texas to warn the others of Santa Anna's plan to take his army north. Along the way they will have encounters with the Mexican army, the Native Americans and the Texan cowboys…

The Texan Scouts by Joseph A. Altsheler is the story of the Battle at the Alamo. Altsheler's cow rancher hero Ned must survive and watch as his town crumbles at the hands of war. Excerpt: "The horseman rode slowly toward the west, stopping once or twice to examine the wide circle of the horizon with eyes that were trained to note every aspect of the wilderness. On his right, the plains melted away in gentle swell after swell, until they met the horizon. Their brown surface was broken only by the spiked and thorny cactus and stray bits of chaparral. On his left was the wide bed of a river that flowed through the sand, breaking here and there into several streams, and then reuniting, only to scatter its volume a hundred yards further into three or four channels. A bird of prey flew on strong wings over the water, dipped, and then rose again, but there was no other sign of life. Beyond, the country southward rolled away, gray and bare, sterile and desolate."

The Texan Scouts by Joseph A. Altsheler is the story of the Battle at the Alamo. Altsheler's cow rancher hero Ned must survive and watch as his town crumbles at the hands of war. Excerpt: "The horseman rode slowly toward the west, stopping once or twice to examine the wide circle of the horizon with eyes that were trained to note every aspect of the wilderness. On his right, the plains melted away in gentle swell after swell, until they met the horizon. Their brown surface was broken only by the spiked and thorny cactus and stray bits of chaparral. On his left was the wide bed of a river that flowed through the sand, breaking here and there into several streams, and then reuniting, only to scatter its volume a hundred yards further into three or four channels. A bird of prey flew on strong wings over the water, dipped, and then rose again, but there was no other sign of life. Beyond, the country southward rolled away, gray and bare, sterile and desolate."

Joseph Altsheler began writing juvenile science fiction because there were so few books in the genre. This novel is a fictionalized story ofthe Texan revolution. Because Altsheler felt such a responsibility tohis young readers, he was careful to ensure his books were historicallyaccurate. Ned Fulton, the central character in The Texas Star, continueshis adventures in this book.

The Texan Scouts is the second in the Altsheler's Texan Series, which includes The Texan Star and The Texan Triumph, and concerns the fortunes of Ned Fulton and his friends. The second phase is the coming of Santa Anna with an overwhelming force, the fall of the Alamo, the massacre of Goliad and the dark days of Texas. Yet the period of gloom is relieved by the last stand of Crockett, Bowie, and their famous comrades. This edition of the book contains the original illustration, rejuvenated, and nine additional illustrations that are unique to this edition of the book.

"THE TEXAN SCOUTS," WHILE A COMPLETE STORY IN ITSELF, CONTINUES THE FORTUNES OF NED FULTON AND HIS FRIENDS, WHO WERE THE CENTRAL CHARACTERS IN "THE TEXAN STAR."

The horseman looked most often into the south. His glances into the north were few and brief, but his eyes dwelled long on the lonely land that lay beyond the yellow current. His was an attractive face. He was young, only a boy, but the brow was broad and high, and the eyes, grave and steady, were those of one who thought much. He was clad completely in buckskin, and his hat was wide of brim. A rifle held in one hand lay across the pommel of his saddle and there were weapons in his belt. Two light, but warm, blankets, folded closely, were tied behind him. The tanned face and the lithe, strong figure showed a wonderful degree of health and strength.