Soon they made out the figure of a man standing on a swell of the prairie, and vigorously waving a torch made of a dead stick lighted at one end.

He had a rifle, but it leaned against a bush beside him.
His belt held a pistol and knife, but his free hand made no movement toward them, as the three rode up.

The man himself was young, slender, and of olive complexion with black hair and eyes.

He was a Mexican, but he was dressed in the simple Texan style.

Moreover, there were Mexicans born in Texas some of whom, belonging to the Liberal party, inclined to the Texan side.