Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 150

Lance and Lasso; or, The Children of the Chaco

A serialized adventure tale by Captain Frederick Whittaker, published in Beadle and Adams's weekly (Vol. VI, No. 98, 1880). The narrative follows four schoolboys from Tusculum Military Academy—Manuel Garcia (eighteen, Spanish-descended), Jack Curtis (seventeen), Tom "Plug" Bullard (Western orphan), and Louis "Kitty" Ledoux (fourteen, Louisiana-born)—who plan a summer vacation trip to Buenos Aires on Manuel's father's estancia, or cattle ranch. The opening chapters establish character backgrounds through dormitory discussion and introduce complications: Kitty's parents initially forbid his attendance until the boys compose a persuasive round-robin letter; Tom operates independently; and the group reassembles at Mr. Curtis's New York house where Don Luis Garcia, Manuel's father, arrives. Ledoux receives paternal permission to join the expedition. The story emphasizes frontier adventure, youthful camaraderie, and preparations for departure to South America's pampas.