With Numerous Illustrations by Henry J. Ford London Longmans, Green, and Co. and New York 1895 All rights reserved _INTRODUCTION_ _The Red True Story Book_ needs no long Introduction. The Editor, in presenting _The Blue True Story Book_, apologised for offering tales so much less thrilling and romantic than the legends of the Fairies, but he added that even real facts were, sometimes, curious and interesting. Next year he promises something quite as true as History, and quite as entertaining as Fairies! For this book, Mr. Rider Haggard has kindly prepared a narrative of 'Wilson's Last Fight,' by aid of conversations with Mr. Burnham, the gallant American scout. But Mr. Haggard found, while writing his chapter, that Mr. Burnham had already told the story in an 'Interview' published by the _Westminster Gazette_. The courtesy of the proprietor of that journal, and of Mr. Burnham, has permitted Mr. Haggard to incorporate the already printed narrative with his own matter. 'The Life and Death of Joan the Maid' is by the Editor, who has used M. Quicherat's _Proces_ (five volumes, published for the Historical Society of France), with M. Quicherat's other researches. He has also used M. Wallon's Biography, the works of Father Ayroles, S.J., the _Jeanne d'Arc a Domremy_ of M. Simeon Luce, the works of M. Sepet, of Michelet, of Henri Martin, and, generally, all printed documents to which he has had access. Of unprinted contemporary matter perhaps none is known to exist, except the Venetian Correspondence, now being prepared for publication by Father Ayroles. 'How the Bass was held for King James' is by the Editor, mainly from Blackadder's _Life_. 'The Crowning of Ines de Castro' is by Mrs. Lang, from Schaefer. 'Orthon,' from Froissart, 'Gustavus Vasa,' 'Monsieur de Bayard's Duel' (Brantome), are by the same lady; also 'Gaston de Foix,' from Froissart, and 'The White Man,' from Mile. Aisse's Letters. Mrs. McCunn has told the story of the Prince's Scottish Campaign, from the contemporary histories of the Rising of 1745, contemporary tracts, _The Lyon in Mourning_, Chambers, Scott, Maxwell of Kirkconnel, and other sources. The short Sagas are translated from the Icelandic by the Rev. W. C. Green, translator of _Egil Skalagrim's Saga_. Mr. S. R. Crockett, Author of _The Raiders_, told the tales of 'The Bull of Earlstoun' and 'Grisell Baillie.' Miss May Kendall and Mrs. Bovill are responsible for the seafarings and shipwrecks; the Australian adventures are by Mrs. Bovill. Miss Minnie Wright compiled 'The Conquest of Peru,' from Prescott's celebrated History. Miss Agnes Repplier, that famed essayist of America, wrote the tale of Molly Pitcher. 'The Adventures of General Marbot' are from the translation of his Autobiography by Mr. Butler.