For some time after his return home Mayne Reid's health remained in a
precarious state, and he suffered very much from depression. At one
time it was almost feared that his mind would not recover its balance.
That wonderful intellect was sadly clouded; the terrible ordeal he had
passed through in New York had left its mark behind. But in the end,
with careful nursing his illusions vanished, and he once more resumed
the pen. After writing some short articles for "Cassell's Illustrated
Travels," he revised "The Finger of Fate" and "Lone Ranche," which was
published in two volumes by Chapman and Hall. In May, 1872, Mayne Reid
commenced writing a new story, "The Death Shot," for Mr Ingram. It
appeared in _The Penny Illustrated Paper_, and was a great success,
speedily increasing the circulation of that paper. "The Death Shot" was
also published by Beadle and Adams, of New York, in their _Saturday
Journal_.
On returning from his autumn tour in South Wales, Captain Reid writes to
his young friend, Charles Ollivant:
"I'm growing as fat as the claimant, and strong as a bull, but sorrowful
as a `gib cat.'"
He was then re-writing "The Lone Ranche," and making it a much longer
book. It ran through the columns of _The Penny Illustrated Paper_,
under the title of "Adela."
In a letter written in November, Mayne Reid says:
"I am now in the middle of a negotiation, that if successful will be of
great service to me--perhaps give me a small income for life, and for my
dear wife when I die. I am trying to re-purchase the copyrights of my
novels."
It was successful, and in December, 1873, and the following June, 1874,
he was enabled to re-purchase the copyrights of most of his works.
In the autumn of 1874, Chapman and Hall published "The Death Shot" in
three volumes. It had recently been revised.
In the preface, dated Great Malvern, September, 1874, he says:
"The author has re-modelled--almost rewritten it.
"It is the same story, but as he hopes and believes, better told."
During the summer of this year Captain Reid commenced "The Flag of
Distress," which was first published in _Chambers Journal_ in August,
1875. He received three hundred guineas for the right of issue in that
journal. Of this book Dr William Chambers wrote to Mayne Reid: "I
think the plot excellent, and the character of `Harry Blew' the finest
you have drawn."
"The Flag of Distress" was afterwards published in three volumes by
Tinsley, and it and "The Death Shot" are now issued in one volume,
published by Swan Sonnenschein and Co.
He also contributed several articles to magazines and a short tale to
_The Illustrated London News_.
In October, 1874, Mayne Reid was again laid low. This time an abscess
attacked the knee of the wounded leg. Again reports of his death were
circulated, and once more arrangements made for his burial. For six
months he was on his bed, and rose at last a cripple, never being able
to walk again for the remainder of his life without the aid of crutches.
In 1882 a small pension was granted him from the United States
Government for Mexican war services. The claim was for an invalid
pension, and this was afterwards increased, but only shortly before his
death.
During the last few years of his life, Captain Mayne Reid may be said to
have literally turned his sword into the "plough share." He resided
then near Ross, Herefordshire, amid the picturesque Wye scenery, and
occupied himself in farming. He reared a peculiar breed of sheep--a
cross between a Mexican species and the Welsh mountain sheep--and
succeeded at length in getting a flock, all with the same peculiarities,
namely, jet black bodies, snow-white faces and long white bushy tails.
An account of these sheep appeared in the _Live Stock Journal_, 1880.
They were called "Jacob's sheep," being "ringed and speckled."
The Captain used to say, jestingly, that he should go down to posterity
as a breeder of sheep. Their mutton appeared on his table, and out of
their wool he had cloth woven, from which he wore garments made to his
own design.
He was also a large potato grower, experimenting with Mexican seed.
Some clever articles upon potato culture from his pen were contributed
to the _Live Stock Journal_, 1880.