Part 13 (1/2)
At the ”cannibal's” next appearance, he was looking a little h the help of Captain Mayne Reid, developed into a three volume novel, published in 1864, under the title of ”Lost Lenore; or the Adventures of a Rolling Stone”
In the preface Mayne Reid scarcely takes sufficient credit to himself for the part he played; he had recast and nearly rewritten the whole work before it was placed in the publisher's hands He says:
”A 'Rolling Stone' ca across my track There was a crystalline sparkle about it, proclai it no common pebble I took it up, and submitted it to examination--it proved to be a diahtly encrusted with quartz, needing but the chisel of the lapidary to lay bare its brilliant beauties to the gaze of an ad world Charles Beach is the proprietor of this precious ge If my share of the task has been attended with labour, it has been a 'labour of love,' for which I shall feel aratulations which are due--and will certainly be given--to the lucky owner of the 'Rolling Stone,' the finder of 'Lost Lenore'”
CHAPTER TWELVE
BRICKS AND MORTAR
The next novel from his pen was ”The White Gauntlett,” an historical romance of the time of Charles the First Many of the scenes are laid in Buckingha the sa in the _Boys Journal_, and the following year ”The Boy Slaves” ritten for the saazine After an interval of six years Captain Reid now satisfied his boy readers as to the fate of Karl and Caspar, the young ”Plant Hunters,” in the sequel called ”The Cliff Climbers”
The _Boys' Journal_, 1865, contained his next boys' book, ”Afloat in the Forest”
This year the wonderful tale of ”The Headless Horsee coloured lithograph to be seen at all the railway stations and bookstalls of a handsome black horse, with a rider, in Mexican striped blanket, booted and spurred--all co a head! By many, this work is considered Mayne Reid's masterpiece It is translated into Russian, and the circulation is stated to be the largest of any English author in Russia Captain Mayne Reid is the lish novelist there
In addition to his novels and books for boys, Mayne Reid is the author of nuazine sketches, most of which are published in collected form
The author's hbours'
gossip During his residence at Gerrards Cross, the gallant Captain attended churchelse His inattention to the service, as also his dandyis the post brought hi lady:
”A friend who is deeply interested in Captain Mayne Reid's spiritual welfare forwards a prayer book, with the sincere wish that it may induce hi him that there is such a colour as lavender, hopes that the everlasting lemon kids may be varied!” This was accompanied by an infinitesiloves
The vicar also presented hie church service; so the Captain's spiritual welfare ell looked after just then
One of the hu man, had also noticed the non use of a prayer book, and accosted the Captain one day, thus: ”Ah, sir, I see you don't require no book; you be a scholard” The poorthat he knew it all by heart
Between the years 1862 and 1865 Captain Mayne Reid built himself a house in the style of a Mexican hacienda, with flat roof In front of the house he constructed an artificial pond--a circular basin lined with cement, a jet of water in the centre--probably to reator and the sisters Loupe, and Luz, to e are introduced in ”The Rifle Rangers” He also built so rooular staff of brickthe ti to look after the workent in their duty The Captain's voice would be heard afar off, and oneChapultepec, or that a troop of his wild Indians on the ”war-path” had suddenly invaded the quiet village
This unfortunate mania for bricks and mortar, combined with other circuive up his country hoin the world over again His spirit was still undaunted, and in spite of failing health he succeeded, afterhimself
On Saturday, April 27th, 1867, there appeared in the streets of London the first nu journal, called _The Little Times_ It was an almost exact counterpart of _The Times_ in miniature
In the first column was:
”Births--On the 27th inst, at 275 and a half, Strand, London, _The Ties--On the 6th inst, at Brussels, Philip Coburg to Mary Hohenzollern-Sigen No cards
”Deaths--On the 12th inst, at Saint Stephen's, Westminster, Mr Gladstone's amendment to the Reform Bill, deeply lamented by Lord Derby”
This paper was Captain Reid's first enterprise after his bankruptcy