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.