Richard Harding Davis 
The Lion and the Unicorn [PDF ebook] 

This is a collection for 4 short stories: Lion and the Unicorn, one about a sailor/soldier, one about a British Governor, and one about a prisoner.
Richard Harding Davis was not only an excellent novelist but also one of the best reporters of all time. He clearly drew from the immense experience he'd gained from traveling the globe and being at the center of history and politics when he wrote his outstanding novels. As a war correspondent he had seen his share of action and adventure, so when he penned his works in the action/adventure genre, he was truly following the adage, "write what you know." His fictional works are so realistic, because he did not have to research the situations he wrote about; he lived them.
This book will take you on a thrilling ride that you won't forget. His wonderfully descriptive prose makes you feel like you're actually there, and his characters are so lifelike you feel like they could stroll into the room at any moment.
Any one of these four stories individually would be worth the price of the entire book.
Contents
The lion and the unicorn — On the fever ship — The man with one talent — The vagrant — The last ride together.