2
VII. ON THE MISSISSIPPI, 107
VIII. STARTING FOR THE WEST, 127
IX. ON THE PLAINS, 154
X. A BUFFALO STORY, 173
XI. HOW DICK LOST HIS SCALP, 186
XII. THE ATTACK ON THE CARAVAN, 206
XIII. AT THE GOLD-FIELDS, 223
XIV. CAPTAIN BAYLEY, 238
XV. THE MISSING HEIR, 253
XVI. JOHN HOLL, DUST CONTRACTOR, 268
XVII. THE LONELY DIGGERS, 285
XVIII. A DREAM VERIFIED, 306
XIX. STRIKING IT RICH, 324
XX. A MESSAGE FROM ABROAD, 341
XXI. HAPPY MEETINGS, 360
XXII. CLEARED AT LAST, 374
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Page
CAPTAIN BAYLEY HEARS STARTLING NEWS, Frontis. 262
THE RESCUE FROM THE SERPENTINE, 32
THE BREAK-UP OF THE CHARTIST MEETING, 72
FRANK'S VISIT TO MR. HIRAM LITTLE'S OFFICE, 101
A FLOOD ON THE MISSISSIPPI, 125
A DEER-HUNT ON THE PRAIRIE, 162
THE ESCAPE OF THE CAPTAIN'S DAUGHTER, 195
DICK AND FRANK ELUDE THE INDIANS, 227
THE SICK FRIEND IN THE MINING CAMP, 296
GOLD-WASHING--A GOOD DAY'S WORK, 329
THE ATTACK ON THE GOLD ESCORT, 338
MEETING OF CAPTAIN BAYLEY AND MR. ADAMS, 352
[Illustration]
CHAPTER I.
WESTMINSTER! WESTMINSTER!
A CRIPPLE boy was sitting in a box on four low wheels, in a little room in a small street in Westminster; his age was some fifteen or sixteen years; his face was clear-cut and intelligent, and was altogether free from the expression either of discontent or of shrinking sadness so often seen in the face of those afflicted. Had he been sitting on a chair at a table, indeed, he would have been remarked as a handsome and well-grown young fellow; his shoulders were broad, his arms powerful, and his head erect. He had not been born a cripple, but had been disabled for life, when a tiny child, by a cart passing over his legs above the knees. He was talking to a lad a year or so younger tha