CONTENTS PageFar-away Guns 11The Race of the Goshawk 22The Fortune of War 47Completely Stranded 69The Work of the Norther 84Forward, March 99The Land of the Montezumas 119Out of the Tierra Caliente 136Leaving the Hacienda 157Pictures of the Past 167Ned's News 181A Storm Coming 193The Revolution 207The Despatch-bearer 221Under Fire 240General Scott and His Army 254The Mountain Passes 267Señor Carfora Trapped 281The Stars and Stripes in Tenochtitlan 294AHEAD OF THE ARMYCHAPTER I.FAR-AWAY GUNS"Boom! Boom! Boom!"The long surges of the Gulf of Mexico were beating heavily upon thesandy beach of Point Isabel, but the dull and boding sounds were not theroar of the surf. There came a long silence, and then another boom. Eachin succession entered the white tents of the American army on theupland, carrying with it a message of especial importance to all whowere within. It was also of more importance to the whole world than anyman who heard it could then have imagined. It spoke to the sentries attheir posts, and compelled them to turn and listen. It halted allpatrolling and scouting parties, making them stand still to utter suddenexclamations. More than one mounted officer reined in his horse tohear, and then wheeled to spur away toward the tent of General ZacharyTaylor, commanding the forces of the United States upon the Rio Grande.