PAGE CHAPTER I Etymology of the word Filibuster--Norse Adventurers--The Buccaneers --Miranda--Services under the Directory--First Expedition from the United States--Dr. Jenner and the King of Spain--Miranda's second expedition and death, 1 CHAPTER II Aaron Burr--The McGregor and his kingdoms--Mina's expedition and fate--The Alamo massacre--Travis, Bowie, and Crockett--The tragedy of Goliad--Houston and Santa Ana--Victory of San Jacinto--The Santa Fe and Mier expeditions, 12 CHAPTER III The Lopez Expedition--Landing at Cardenas--Pickett's Fight--An Exciting Chase--Last Expedition--Execution of Lopez and Crittenden, 34 CHAPTER IV The Count Raoussett-Boulbon--A father "de la vieille roche"-- Raoussett's contract to garrison Sonora--Proclamations and pronunciamientos--Battle of Hermosillo--Negotiations with Santa Ana--Expedition to Guaymas--Engagement and defeat--Last words of a noble adventurer--Death of the Count, 42 CHAPTER V William Walker--Boyhood and education--Doctor, Lawyer, Journalist --Goes to California--Personal appearance and characteristics-- Departure of the Sonora Expedition--A government proclaimed--Stern discipline--Retreat from Sonora--Bad news at San Vincente--The adventurers cross the boundary--Walker resumes the pen, 56 CHAPTER VI Nicaragua--"Mahomet's Paradise"--Buccaneering visitors--Philip II. and Isthmian canal--Nelson defeated by a girl--The apocryphal heroine of San Carlos, 73 CHAPTER VII British intrigues on the Isthmus--Morazan and the Confederacy--The Mosquito Dynasty--Bombardment of San Juan--Castellon calls in the foreigner--Doubleday and his free lances--Cole's contract approved by Walker, 81 CHAPTER VIII Purchase of the _Vesta_--May 4th, 1855, sailing of the "Immortal Fifty-six"--The American Phalanx--First battle of Rivas--Punishing a desperado--Trouble in Castellon's Cabinet--Battle at Virgin Bay --Death of Castellon. 93 CHAPTER IX A Servile victory in the North--Walker in the enemy's stronghold-- Negotiations for peace--Execution of Mayorga--Rivas chosen Provisional Director--Corral's treason and punishment--Newspaper history, 108 CHAPTER X Filibusterism abroad--Kinney's Expedition--The Filibusters and their allies--An aristocracy of leather--Pierce and Marcy--A rupture with the United States--Costa Rica declares war-- Schlessinger's fiasco--Cosmopolitan adventurers--Steamers withdrawn--History of the Transit Company--Vanderbilt plans vengeance--The printing-press on the field, 117 CHAPTER XI