Here, in high style, is the story of a wisecracking adventurer who came of age in the untamed West. A rebel who surprised himself by becoming the most famous American of his time.

The man who made frogs famous -- Eggs, three cents a dozen -- The gingerbread kid -- Upside down and backwards -- The riverboat rajah -- The cruel river -- Sam and the fortune teller -- Two weeks as a warrior -- The buffalo that climbed a tree -- Thieves, murderers, and desperados -- Gold, ten cents an acre -- Sam and the petrified man -- The duel at dawn -- Sam in the big city -- The slouching man -- The talking bluejay -- The water boy from Jackass Hill -- Goodbye, Sam; hello, Mark -- The sandwich chronicles -- The trouble begins at 8 -- The great holdup -- Twain attempts to behave -- Golden Gate, so long.