PAGE.

I. A STRANGER 73

II. IN A STRANGE LAND 77

III. THE HANDSHAKING 81

IV. HOW THE CHILDREN RANG THE BELL 86

V. INVITED TO LEAVE 91

VI. WAR OF DARKNESS AND LIGHT 98

VII. LOVE AND DUTY 103

VIII. AT CLAUDE'S MERCY 111

IX. READY 116

X. CONSPIRACY 119

XI. LIGHT, LOVE, AND VICTORY 129

_AU LARGE._

CHAPTER. PAGE.

I. THE POT-HUNTER 142

II. CLAUDE 147

III. THE TAVERN FIRESIDE 152

IV. MARGUERITE 167

V. FATHER AND SON 179

VI. CONVERGING LINES 188

VII. 'THANASE'S VIOLIN 201

VIII. THE SHAKING PRAIRIE 213

IX. NOT BLUE EYES, NOR YELLOW HAIR 221

X. A STRONG TEAM 226

XI. HE ASKS HER AGAIN 235

XII. THE BEAUSOLEILS AND ST. PIERRES 248

XIII. THE CHASE 255

XIV. WHO SHE WAS 263

XV. CAN THEY CLOSE THE BREAK? 269

XVI. THE OUTLAW AND THE FLOOD 271

XVII. WELL HIDDEN 280

XVIII. THE TORNADO 286

XIX. "TEARS AND SUCH THINGS" 294

XX. LOVE, ANGER, AND MISUNDERSTANDING 299

XXI. LOVE AND LUCK BY ELECTRIC LIGHT 305

XXII. A DOUBLE LOVE-KNOT 310

BONAVENTURE.

CARANCRO.

CHAPTER I.

SOSTHENE.

Bayou Teche is the dividing line. On its left is the land of bayous,
lakes, and swamps; on its right, the beautiful short-turfed prairies
of Western Louisiana. The Vermilion River divides the vast prairie
into