Book excerpt: 1909. Hough's literary career grew out of his taking camping trips and writing about them for publication. His body of work eventually included 27 novels and hundreds of short stories and articles. Hough's early works included The Singing Mouse Stories, for children, and the nonfiction The Story of the Cowboy. He had his first major success in 1902 with his novel The Mississippi Bubble, which became a bestseller. 54-40 or Fight begins: Then you offer me no hope, Doctor? The gray mane of Doctor Samuel Ward waved like a fighting crest as he made answer: Not the sort of hope you ask. A moment later he added: John, I am ashamed of you.