GUSTAVE AIMARD
Lascelles Wraxall translation
AUTHOR OF
"SMUGGLER CHIEF," "STRONG HAND," "PRAIRIE FLOWER," ETC.
LONDON
WARD AND LOCK, 158, FLEET STREET
LONDON
MDCCCLXIV
PREFACE.
The publication of the present volume of Gustave Aimard's works renders the series complete. It takes its place as the first of all: and it is succeeded by the "Border Rifles," "Freebooters," and "White Scalper." In exciting scenes and perilous adventures, this work, if possible, surpasses all those which have as yet been offered to the English reader. Moreover it enables the development of Aimard's literary talent to be distinctly traced. The critic will discover, that, at first, Gustave Aimard's brain so teemed with incidents, that he paid slight attention to plot, and hence this volume—as is indeed generally the case with works relative to Indian life and character—consists rather of a succession of exciting adventures than of a regularly developed drama. This fault our Author has corrected in his later works: his hand, at first better suited to wield the bowie knife than the pen, has regained its pliancy; and the ever increasing encouragement bestowed on his stories in England, is a gratifying proof that his efforts after artistic improvement have been fully appreciated.
L.W.
CONTENTS.
PROLOGUE.
I.HERMOSILLO
II.THE HACIENDA DEL MILAGRO
III.THE SENTENCE
IV.THE MOTHER
PART I.
I.THE PRAIRIE
II.THE HUNTERS
III.THE TRAIL
IV.THE TRAVELLERS
V.THE COMANCHES
VI.THE PRESERVER
VII.THE SURPRISE
VIII.INDIAN VENGEANCE
IX.THE PHANTOM
X.THE ENTRENCHED CAMP
XI.THE BARGAIN
XII.PSYCHOLOGICAL
XIII.THE BEE-HUNT
XIV.BLACK ELK
XV.THE BEAVERS
XVI.TREACHERY
XVII.EAGLE HEAD
XVIII.NÔ EUSEBIO
XIX.THE COUNCIL OF THE GREAT CHIEFS
XX.THE TORTURE
PART II.
I.LOYAL HEART
II.THE PIRATES
III.DEVOTEDNESS
IV.THE DOCTOR
V.THE ALLIANCE
VI.THE LAST ASSAULT
VII.THE BATTLE
VIII.THE CAVERN OF VERDIGRIS
IX.DIPLOMACY
X.LOVE
XI.THE PRISONERS
XII.A RUSE DE GUERRE
XIII.THE LAW OF THE PRAIRIES
XIV.THE CHASTISEMENT
XV.THE PARDON
EPILOGUE