Title:  The American Baron

Author:  James de Mille

Release Date:  August 22, 2004 [EBook #13257]

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

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[Illustration:  “And as they stood the clergymen slowly came out of the house”—­[See page 132.]

THE AMERICAN BARON.

A Novel.

By James de Mille,

AUTHOR OF

“The dodge club,” “The cryptogram,” “Cord and Creese,” &c.

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS.

New York:  Harper & brothers, publishers,
Franklin square.
1872.

By prof.  James de Mille.

     THE DODGE CLUB; or, Italy in 1859.  Illustrated. 8vo,
     Paper, 75 cents; Cloth, $1.25.

     CORD AND CREESE.  A Novel.  Illustrated. 8vo, Paper, 75
     cents; Cloth, $1.25.

     THE CRYPTOGRAM.  A Novel.  Illustrated. 8vo, Paper, $1,50;
     Cloth, $2.00.

     THE AMERICAN BARON.  A Novel.  Illustrated. 8vo, Paper.

Published by Harper & brothers, new York.

Sent by mail, postage prepaid, to any part of the United States, on receipt of the price.

* * * * *

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

THE AMERICAN BARON.

[Illustration:  “Pardon, mees.”]

CHAPTER I.

THE AVALANCHE.

Somewhat less than a hundred years ago a party of travelers might have been seen crossing over the Simplon Road, en route for Italy.  They had been detained at Brieg by reports that the road was impassable; and, as it was the month of March, the prospect of snow and storms and avalanches was sufficient to make them hesitate.  At length the road had been reopened, and they were informed that the journey might be made on sleds.

Unwilling to wait at Brieg, and equally unwilling to make a detour so as to take the railroad, the party decided to go on.  They were informed that they could go on wheels as far as the line of snow, but that afterward their accommodations would not be so comfortable as they might desire.  The road had been cleared for only a few feet; the snow was deep; the sleds were rude; and progress would be slow.