[Illustration: He shot his hand across an’ pulled his gun quick as a flash; but Horace didn’t move, he just sat still, with a friendly smile on his face] FRIAR TUCK BEING THE CHRONICLES OF THE REVEREND JOHN CARMICHAEL, OF WYOMING, U.S.A., AS SET FORTH AND EMBELLISHED BY HIS FRIEND AND ADMIRER HAPPY HAWKINS AND HERE RECORDED BY ROBERT ALEXANDER WASON AUTHOR OF HAPPY HAWKINS, THE KNIGHT-ERRANT, ETC. ILLUSTRATED BY STANLEY L. WOOD NEW YORK GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS Copyright, 1912 By Small, Maynard and Company (Incorporated) Entered at Stationers’ Hall Published, September 7, 1912; Sixth edition, November, 1912 Many there are who respond to the commonplace, monotonous call of Duty, and year after year uncomplainingly spend their lives on the treadmill of Routine; but who still feel in their hearts the call of the open road, the music of the stars, the wine of the western wind, and the thrilling abandon of a mad gallop out beyond speed limits and grass signs to where life has ceased to be a series of cogs and—a man is still a man. To the members of this fraternity, whose emblem, hidden behind deep and steadfast eyes, is often missed by man, but always recognized by dogs and horses, I dedicate this book, in the hope that for an hour or two it may lift the pressure a little. R. A. W. JUST BETWEEN YOU AND ME Reviews are not infrequently colored by a temporary elevation of the critic’s mind (or a temporary depression of the critic’s liver), advertisements are not invariably free from bias; so, perhaps, a few words of friendly warning will not be considered impertinent. Whosoever is squeamishly sensitive as to the formal technique of literary construction will save himself positive irritation by avoiding this book. It is a told, rather than a written story; and this is a compromise which defies Art and frankly turns to the more elastic methods of Nature.