Chapter V, The Trace Summary

Many ethnic groups settle in Texas. Among them is Finlay McNab of Scotland. Finlay had studied at St. Andrews, then decided he wanted to be a merchant husbandman. He found a position with Angus MacGregor near Belfast, Ireland. When he got into trouble, he fled to Bristol, England, and, with the law after him, on to Baltimore. In Baltimore, he married and when he got into trouble again, he and his son, Otto, headed West.

In Cincinnati, Finlay finds work with a merchant of livestock. He learns from a riverboat owner of how to obtain land. He writes to Stephen Austin about acquiring land in Texas. He and his son cross into Kentuky and begin their hike to Nashville. As they travel, they meet Francis Xavier Campbell, who travels to Texas with them. On the way, they...