title: The Pursuit of Murieta: A Western Novel
author:  Thomas D. Clagett 
description: Clagett takes on the old California myth of Joaquin Murieta, who was either a murderous bandit or a sort of Mexican Robin Hoodor both. He ably portrays the part of the story most commonly told: that Murieta tried to make it rich in the California goldfields but was defrauded by whites, who not only stole his money but also horsewhipped him and raped his wife. Thereafter, Murieta became a bandit, but many claimed to be Murieta, so he was often innocent of crimes attributed to him. Some saw him as a champion of Mexicans, oppressed by the usurping whites. Clagett focuses on a manhunt led by naive young California ranger Ambrose Quick, whos eager to make a name for himself. Quick thinks of himself as an honorable man, but hes compromised by his inexperience and ambition, so that, in the end, hes not much better than his drunken subordinate, the reward-happy Ned Needle. Clagetts characters escape stereotype but are unappealing. Readers will side with Murieta in this well-told, disquieting story. --John Mort
zlib_text:   
  The Project Gutenberg EBook of Muskrat City, by Henry Abbott  
    
  This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with  
  almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or  
  re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included  
  with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org  
    
    
  Title: Muskrat City  
    
  Author: Henry Abbott  
    
  Release Date: December 1, 2010 [EBook #34524]  
    
  Language: English  
    
    
  *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MUSKRAT CITY ***  
    
    
    
    
  Produced by Linda M. Everhart, Blairstown, Missouri  
    
    
    
    
    
  
  
  #####
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  ## MUSKRAT CITY
  
  
  ##### By  
  
  
  HENRY ABBOTT  
  
  
    
  
  
  NEW YORK  
  
  
  1922  
  
  
    
  
  
  Copyright 1922  
  
  
  by  
  
  
  HENRY ABBOTT
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  ## MUSKRAT CITY
  
  
  The Irish cook one day proposed to the ship's captain the following conundrum:
  "Is anny thin' lost whin yeez know where 'tis?" The Captain assured him that
  in such case the thing was not lost. And Dennis responded: "Well, thin, shure,