• Published: 1871
• Language: English
• 90,361 words

Synopsis

This is a tale of young Englishmen who go out to the Argentine with their family. They have many adventures at the time of the Mexican - American War including a raid by the Pampas Indians in which their sister is abducted. They rescue the girl, make peace with the Indians, and return prosperously to England.

Excerpt

'What are you thinking of, Frank?' Mrs. Hardy asked her husband one evening, after an unusually long silence on his part.

'Well, my dear, I was thinking of a good many things. In the first place, I think, I began with wondering what I should make of the boys; and that led to such a train of thoughts about ourselves and our circumstances, that I hardly knew where I was when you spoke to me.'

Mr. Hardy spoke cheerfully, but his wife saw at once that it was with an effort that he did so. She put down the work upon which she was engaged, and moved her chair nearer to his by the fire. 'It is a serious question, Frank, about the boys. Charley is fifteen now, and Hubert fourteen. I wonder myself sometimes what we shall do with them.'