Note: Images of the original pages are available through HathiTrust Digital Library. See http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b3750786;view=1up;seq=495 THE MISSOURI OUTLAWS by GUSTAVE AIMARD Author of "Prairie Flower," "Indian Scout," etc., etc. Translated by Percy B. St. John London John And Robert Maxwell Milton House, Shoe Lane, Fleet Street and 35, St. Bride Street, Ludgate Circus. 1877 NOTICE. Gustave Aimard was the adopted son of one of the most powerful Indian tribes, with whom he lived for more than fifteen years in the heart of the prairies, sharing their dangers and their combats, and accompanying them everywhere, rifle in one hand and tomahawk in the other. In turn squatter, hunter, trapper, warrior, and miner, Gustave Aimard has traversed America from the highest peaks of the Cordilleras to the ocean shores, living from hand to mouth, happy for the day, careless of the morrow. Hence it is that Gustave Aimard only describes his own life. The Indians of whom he speaks he has known--the manners he depicts are his own. PREFACE Very few of the soul-stirring narratives written by GUSTAVE AIMARD are equal in freshness and vigour to "The Missouri Outlaws," hitherto unpublished in this country. The characters of the Squatter, the real, restless, unconquerable American, who is always going ahead, and of his wife and daughter, are admirably depicted, while his eccentric brother is a perfect gem of description. The great interest, however, of the narrative is centred in Tom Mitchell, the mysterious outlaw, whose fortunes excite the readers' imagination to the utmost. There can be no doubt he is one of the most original characters depicted by the versatile pen of the great French novelist. In addition to being a story of adventure, "The Missouri Outlaws" is also a love tale, and abounds in tender pathos, the interest of which is well sustained in "The Prairie Flower" and in its sequel, "The Indian Scout." PERCY B. ST. JOHN. London: _February, 1877._ CONTENTS I. THE GOOD SHIP PATRIOT II. SAMUEL DICKSON GIVES ADVICE TO HIS BROTHER III. A QUEER CUSTOMER IV. AN ALLIANCE OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE V. A GREAT MEDICINE COUNCIL VI. SAMUEL DICKSON HUNTS A MOOSE DEER VII. JOSHUA DICKSON BECOMES MASTER OF THE VALLEY VIII. DIANA DICKSON AND HER FOE IX. THEY MAKE AN ACQUAINTANCE X. WHO THE STRANGER WAS XI. EXPLANATIONS XII. HOW THE THREE TRAVELLERS WENT TO GEORGE CLINTON'S XIII. TOM MITCHELL XIV. SAMUEL AND JOSHUA XV. NEW CHARACTERS XVI. TOM MITCHELL AS REDRESSER OF WRONGS XVII. A DIPLOMATIC CONVERSATION BETWEEN TWO RASCALS XVIII. THE PRISONER XIX. IN WHICH TOM MITCHELL DISCOVERS THAT HONESTY IS A GOOD SPECULATION XX. A STRANGE CHASE XXI. CAPTAIN TOM MITCHELL, THE AVENGER XXII. A DESPERATE STRUGGLE THE MISSOURI OUTLAWS CHAPTER I. THE GOOD SHIP PATRIOT.