Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 61226-h.htm or 61226-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/61226/61226-h/61226-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/61226/61226-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See https://archive.org/details/arkof1803storyof00step Transcriber’s note: Text that was in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_). THE ARK OF 1803 A Story Of Louisiana Purchase Times by C. A. STEPHENS [Illustration] Illustrated by H. Burgess New York A. S. BARNES & COMPANY 1904 Copyright, 1904 by A. S. BARNES & CO. May, 1904 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENTS CHAPTER I. PAGE THE MASTER’S HOLIDAY 1 CHAPTER II. THE ARK IS LAUNCHED 26 CHAPTER III. JIMMY LEAVES FISH CREEK 51 CHAPTER IV. JIMMY SAVES A STRANGER 68 CHAPTER V. UNCLE AMASA’S NEWS 84 CHAPTER VI. A DANGEROUS “GOBBLER” 106 CHAPTER VII. THE CAVE ROBBERS 129 CHAPTER VIII. THE TORNADO 154 CHAPTER IX. THE LANDSLIDE 181 CHAPTER X. “SAM HOKOMOKE” 202 CHAPTER XI. THE HEAD 227 CHAPTER XII. NEW ORLEANS 260 CHAPTER XIII. “VIVE NAPOLEON” 301 CHAPTER XIV. CONCLUSION 320 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS -------------- PAGE “HEY, WHAT? FORGIVE THEM!” 22 “YOU WILL SURELY COME BACK THEN?” 91 “HERE’S YOUR TURKEY GOBBLER!” 128 A “KEEL” FROM ST. LOUIS CAME ALONGSIDE 170 “GUESS WHO HE IS! GUESS!” 202 “HOW GOT YE BY THE FORT?” 268