The Merry Men and Other Tales and Fables by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON tenth edition LONDON CHATTO & WINDUS 1904 Three of the following Tales have appeared in the _Cornhill Magazine_; one in _Longman’s_; one in Mr. Henry Norman’s Christmas Annual; and one in the _Court and Society Review_. The Author desires to make proper acknowledgements to the Publishers concerned. Dedication _My dear Lady Taylor_, _To your name_, _if I wrote on brass_, _I could add nothing_; _it has been already written higher than I could dream to reach_, _by a strong and dear hand_; _and if I now dedicate to you these tales_, _it is not as the writer who brings you his work_, _but as the friend who would remind you of his affection_. _ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON_ Skerryvore, Bournemouth. Contents THE MERRY MEN CHAPTER 1. EILEAN AROS CHAPTER 2. WHAT THE WRECK HAD BROUGHT TO AROS CHAPTER 3. LAND AND SEA IN SANDAG BAY CHAPTER 4. THE GALE CHAPTER 5. A MAN OUT OF THE SEA WILL O’ THE MILL CHAPTER 1. THE PLAIN AND THE STARS CHAPTER 2. THE PARSON’S MARJORY CHAPTER 3. DEATH MARKHEIM THRAWN JANET OLALLA THE TREASURE OF FRANCHARD CHAPTER 1. BY THE DYING MOUNTEBANK CHAPTER 2. MORNING TALK CHAPTER 3. THE ADOPTION CHAPTER 4. THE EDUCATION OF A PHILOSOPHER CHAPTER 5. TREASURE TROVE CHAPTER 6. A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, IN TWO PARTS CHAPTER 7. THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF DESPREZ CHAPTER 8. THE WAGES OF PHILOSOPHY THE MERRY MEN CHAPTER I. EILEAN AROS. It was a beautiful morning in the late July when I set forth on foot for the last time for Aros. A boat had put me ashore the night before at Grisapol; I had such breakfast as the little inn afforded, and, leaving all my baggage till I had an occasion to come round for it by sea, struck right across the promontory with a cheerful heart.