The Pioneer Boys of the Mississippi; or, The Homestead in the Wilderness Read online

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  THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE MISSISSIPPI

  OR: THE HOMESTEAD IN THE WILDERNESS

  THE YOUNG PIONEER SERIES

  BY HARRISON ADAMS

  ILLUSTRATED

  THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE OHIO, Or: Clearing the Wilderness $1.25

  THE PIONEER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES, Or: On the Trail of the Iroquois 1.25

  THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Or: The Homestead in the Wilderness 1.25

  _Other Volumes in Preparation_

  L. C. PAGE & COMPANY 53 Beacon Street, Boston, Mass.

  "'THE PRECIOUS WAMPUM BELT, SANDY!' HE CRIED."_See page 332._]

  The Young Pioneer Series

  THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE MISSISSIPPI

  OR: THE HOMESTEAD IN THE WILDERNESS

  By HARRISON ADAMS Author of "The Pioneer Boys of the Ohio," "The Pioneer Boys on the Great Lakes," etc.

  Illustrated by H. RICHARD BOEHM

  L. C. PAGE & COMPANY BOSTON MDCCCCXIII

 

  _Copyright, 1913, by_

  L. C. PAGE & COMPANY

  (INCORPORATED)

  _All rights reserved_

  First Impression, June, 1913

  THE COLONIAL PRESS C. H. SIMONDS & CO. BOSTON, U. S. A.

  PREFACE

  DEAR BOYS:--Those of you who have read the earlier volumes in thisseries of backwoods stories may remember that I half-promised to followthe "Pioneer Boys on the Great Lakes" with a third volume. I now havethe pleasure of presenting that story to you. In it you will renew youracquaintance with the two stout-hearted lads of the border, Bob andSandy Armstrong, as well as several other characters you met before,some of whose names have become famous, and are recorded in the historyof those early days that "tried men's souls." Besides this, thereare some new characters introduced, who, I hope, will appeal to yourinterest.

  It was hardly to be expected that such a restless spirit as that ofDavid Armstrong, the Virginia pioneer who built his log cabin on thebank of the beautiful Ohio, would long rest contented when wonderfulstories constantly reached his ears concerning the astonishingfertility of the black soil, as well as the abundance of fur-bearinganimals, to be found in the valley of the great river which De Sotohad discovered--the mighty Mississippi; and, as you will learn, hisfirst serious set-back caused him to start upon another long pilgrimagetoward the "Promised Land."

  It was this constant rivalry among the early settlers, thisnever-ending desire to find better homesteads in the new country,always toward the setting sun, that gradually peopled our Middle West,and finally reached out far across the plains to the shore of thePacific.

  Trusting that you may enjoy reading the present volume, and that atno distant day we may again renew our acquaintance, believe me, dearreaders, to be,

  Cordially yours, HARRISON ADAMS.

  _May 1st, 1913._