Maps on endpapers.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [427]-440) and index.

Prologue: Hoofbeats -- THE NEW MEN: Jumping off -- The glittering world -- The army of the West -- Singing grass -- Blue Bead Mountain -- Who is James K. Polk? -- What a wild life! -- The ruling hand of providence -- The pathfinder -- When the land is sick -- The un-Alamo -- We will correct all this -- Narbona Pass -- The uninvaded silence -- On the altar of the country -- A perfect butchery -- The fire of Montezuma -- Your duty, Mr. Carson -- Daggers in every look -- Men with ears down to their ankles -- The hall of final ruin -- A BROKEN COUNTRY: The grim metronome -- Lords of the mountains -- The devil's turnpike -- Our red children -- Cold steel -- El Crepusculo -- American mercury -- Time at last sets all things even -- The finest head I ever saw -- The death knot -- Men without eyes -- Blood and thunder -- MONSTER SLAYER: The fearing time -- People of the single star -- The sons of some dear mother -- The round forest -- Children of the mist -- General orders no. 15 -- Fortress rock -- The long walk -- Adobe walls -- The condition of the tribes -- Crossing purgatory -- Epilogue: In beauty we walk.