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_. [Illustration: "I'LL UNLOCK IT BIMEBY--MAYBE." (_See page 91._)] 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