Wow. What a rollicking ride the Rangers have had. I had to take periodic breaks when reading this book because of all the bloodletting. One thing really stands out: We've always had problems along the border and many times it's of our own making. Sometimes it seemed as if the Rangers appeared only when peace was about to break out. The string of injustices either ignored or in the worst cases actually committed by a Ranger is long. Yet the legend of the Rangers is tended to and guarded to this day. Books like Swanson's do break through the veneer, but legends are hard to tarnish, particularly when there's plenty of politicians seeking their own ennoblement through association with the "vaunted" Rangers. ( )