Chapter I: Introduction

Only an apology for having written this historical tale.

My private opinion is, that all writers of historical tales should return me thanks if I apologize for them with myself, all in a body, the truer the tale the ampler being the spirit of the apology.

While I have been writing this tale, sometimes in its most important or serious portions, I have been startled by detecting my own mouth widening with an absurd smile, or by hearing a ridiculous chuckle issuing from my own lips, and have suddenly discovered that I was quite unconsciously repeating to myself the famous old Scotch anecdote of the old woman and the Scotch preacher--"That's good, and that's Robertson; and that's good, and that's Chalmers; ... and that's bad, and that's himsel'."

Turning the old woman into the more learned among my possible readers, and the Scotch preacher into myself, I read the anecdote--"That's good, and that's Prescott; that's good, and that's Robertson; that's good, and that's guide-book; that's good, and that's Arthur Helps; and that's bad, and that's hersel'."

I can only wind up my apology by pleading, that at least my badness has not gone the length of distorting a single fact, nor of giving to this wonderful page of history any touch of false colouring.

G. S.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. _A POISON-FLY FOR THE HEART OF ARAGON_

CHAPTER II. _CONSPIRATORS_

CHAPTER III. _RIVALS AT DON PHILIP'S HOUSE_

CHAPTER IV. _THINKING OF EXILE_

CHAPTER V. _DEATH FOR ARBUES DE EPILA_

CHAPTER VI. _SANCHO'S BROKEN VICTUALS_

CHAPTER VII. _CONSULTING A SWEET TOOTH_

CHAPTER VIII. _A POWERFUL FRIEND_

CHAPTER IX. _FROM THE NEW PRINTING PRESS_

CHAPTER X. _A JACK IN OFFICE_

CHAPTER XI. _THE FIRST FIND_

CHAPTER XII. _SURGEON TO THE REDSKINS_

CHAPTER XIII. _FOR LIFE OR DEATH_

CHAPTER XIV. _MASTER PEDRO'S DOGS IN DANGER_

CHAPTER XV. _NOISE TO THE RESCUE_

CHAPTER XVI. _I AM 'DON ALONZO'_

CHAPTER XVII. _GOOD OLD DON_

CHAPTER XVIII. _DEATH FOR DON_

CHAPTER XIX. _THE WAY TO TREAT THE REDSKINS_

CHAPTER XX. _THE MASSACRE AT CAONAO_

CHAPTER XXI. _THE PATRIOT CACIQUE HATUEY_

CHAPTER XXII. _ANOTHER STORM FOR THE PILOT ALAMINOS_

CHAPTER XXIII. _A SYMBOL WITH TWO MEANINGS_

CHAPTER XXIV. _KINDRED FEELING_

CHAPTER XXV. _MONTORO DE DIEGO TURNS HANGMAN_

CHAPTER XXVI. _CORTES BURNS HIS SHIPS_

CHAPTER XXVII. _MONTORO LEADS A CHANT_

CHAPTER XXVIII. _THE GODS MUST AVENGE THEMSELVES_

CHAPTER XXIX. _MONTORO AND CABRERA RESCUE A HUMAN SACRIFICE_

CHAPTER XXX. _TOO USEFUL TO BE KILLED_

CHAPTER XXXI. _ONCE FOR ALL--THEY SHALL CEASE_

CHAPTER XXXII. _ON THE ROAD TO MEXICO_

CHAPTER XXXIII. _THE CAUSE ONCE MORE IN JEOPARDY_

CHAPTER XXXIV. _AN INDIAN GIRL-CHAMPION_

CHAPTER XXXV. _THE TLASCALAN KNIGHT'S PROBATION_

CHAPTER XXXVI. _ACROSS THE CAUSEWAY_

CHAPTER XXXVII. _ESCALANTE'S FATE DECIDES IT_

CHAPTER XXXVIII. _THE DOWNFALL OF AN EMPIRE_

CHAPTER XXXIX. _HOMEWARD BOUND_

CHAPTER XL. _REINSTATED_

GOLD AND GLORY,

OR

Wild Ways of other Days.