Chapter I: Preface

Very few of the soul-stirring narratives written by GUSTAVE AIMARD are equal in freshness and vigour to "The Missouri Outlaws," hitherto unpublished in this country. The characters of the Squatter, the real, restless, unconquerable American, who is always going ahead, and of his wife and daughter, are admirably depicted, while his eccentric brother is a perfect gem of description. The great interest, however, of the narrative is centred in Tom Mitchell, the mysterious outlaw, whose fortunes excite the readers' imagination to the utmost. There can be no doubt he is one of the most original characters depicted by the versatile pen of the great French novelist. In addition to being a story of adventure, "The Missouri Outlaws" is also a love tale, and abounds in tender pathos, the interest of which is well sustained in "The Prairie Flower" and in its sequel, "The Indian Scout."

PERCY B. ST. JOHN.

London: _February, 1877._

CONTENTS

I. THE GOOD SHIP PATRIOT
II. SAMUEL DICKSON GIVES ADVICE TO HIS BROTHER
III. A QUEER CUSTOMER
IV. AN ALLIANCE OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE
V. A GREAT MEDICINE COUNCIL
VI. SAMUEL DICKSON HUNTS A MOOSE DEER
VII. JOSHUA DICKSON BECOMES MASTER OF THE VALLEY
VIII. DIANA DICKSON AND HER FOE
IX. THEY MAKE AN ACQUAINTANCE
X. WHO THE STRANGER WAS
XI. EXPLANATIONS
XII. HOW THE THREE TRAVELLERS WENT TO GEORGE CLINTON'S
XIII. TOM MITCHELL
XIV. SAMUEL AND JOSHUA
XV. NEW CHARACTERS
XVI. TOM MITCHELL AS REDRESSER OF WRONGS
XVII. A DIPLOMATIC CONVERSATION BETWEEN TWO RASCALS
XVIII. THE PRISONER
XIX. IN WHICH TOM MITCHELL DISCOVERS THAT HONESTY
IS A GOOD SPECULATION
XX. A STRANGE CHASE
XXI. CAPTAIN TOM MITCHELL, THE AVENGER
XXII. A DESPERATE STRUGGLE

THE MISSOURI OUTLAWS