Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber's Note: Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained as printed. Words printed in italics are noted with underscores: _italics_.

THE DESERTER

AND OTHER STORIES

_A Book of Two Wars_

BY

HAROLD FREDERIC

AUTHOR OF "IN THE VALLEY," "SETH'S BROTHER'S WIFE," "THE COPPERHEAD," ETC.

_WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY_

MERRILL, SANDHAM, GILBERT GAUL AND GEORGE FOSTER BARNES

BOSTON LOTHROP PUBLISHING COMPANY

COPYRIGHT, 1898, BY LOTHROP PUBLISHING COMPANY.

_All rights reserved._

Norwood Press J. S. Cushing & Co.--Berwick & Smith Norwood Mass. U.S.A.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

THE DESERTER.

I. DISCOVERIES IN THE BARN 3

II. A SUDDEN DEPARTURE 20

III. FATHER AND SON 42

IV. THE "MEANEST WORD" 60

V. THE DEPUTY MARSHAL 80

VI. A HOME IN THE WOODS 98

VII. ANOTHER CHASE AFTER MOSE 117

A DAY IN THE WILDERNESS.

I. THE VALLEY OF DEATH 139

II. LAFE RECONNOITRES THE VALLEY 157

III. THE BOUNTY-JUMPER 177

IV. RED PETE IN CAPTIVITY 198

V. LAFE RESCUES AN OFFICER, AND FINDS HIS COUSIN 216

HOW DICKON CAME BY HIS NAME.

I. THE MAKING OF A SOLDIER 239

II. A BURST FOR FREEDOM 260

III. A STRANGE CHRISTMAS EVE 279

IV. UP IN THE WORLD 299

WHERE AVON INTO SEVERN FLOWS.

I. HUGH THE WRITER 319

II. SIR HEREWARD'S RING 350

III. HOW HUGH MET THE PRINCE 381

ILLUSTRATIONS.

"'I'LL UNLOCK IT BIMEBY--MAYBE'" _Frontispiece_

PAGE

"'SH-H! TALK LOWER!'" 27

"'GIMME THAT GUN!'" 61

"'DROP IT--YOU!'" 175

LAFE AND THE BOUNTY-JUMPER 195

"'I'M STEVE HORNBECK'S SON!'" 231

"SIR WATTY CAME STALKING DOWN" 249

"'WHOSE BLOOD IS THIS?'" 285

"HE ADVANCED AND KISSED THE LADY'S HAND" 357

"TWO DOZEN PIKE-HEADS CLASHED DOWN AS BY A SINGLE TOUCH" 385

THE DESERTER.