
Chapter One. - My friends the Raggets—Our proposed migration—Journey commenced—Attack of the Indians—A shot through my leg—Horrible anticipations—Hide in a bush—Climb a tree—My thoughts in my concealment—Listen in expectation of an attack—Starving in the midst of plenty—Some one approaches—I prepare to fire.
Chapter Two. - A friend in need—How two people may live while one will starve—Obed goes in search of adventures, and I awake to find a rattlesnake close to my nose—I am saved—Obed returns, but followed by a gentleman whose room would be more pleasant than his company—Obed cannot fire, and I cannot run, but I save him by sitting still—We anticipate the pleasure of dining on bear’s flesh—Obed fetches and carries like a dog, and we fare sumptuously—I take to crutches—We collect stores and make a tent—A red-skin visitor.
Chapter Three. - The red-skin proves to be a friend—He and Obed leave me alone in my glory—I fortify myself for the winter—Visited by wolves—A terrific storm—The wolves my nightly visitors—I kill some and eat then, but find them o’er teuch—An object moving in the distance—Red-skins and enemies—I prepare for their reception—I kill one of them—A fearful struggle—I endeavour to obliterate the signs of this visit—My terrible solitude—More wolves and more Indians—I prepare a banquet for them—The suspicions of my guests aroused—The unpleasant termination to our feast.
Chapter Four. - The Indians propose to kill me—I am bound ready for the torture—My guests find the fire-water, and I find the advantage of having abstained from it—A fearful conference—A tomahawk sent at my head—The spirits take effect—I work my limbs free—Shall I kill my enemies?—I fly—A run for life—My terrible journey—I sink exhausted—A friendly Indian—A kind reception—I have cause to rejoice that I did not redden my hands with blood.
Chapter Five. - I have cause to rejoice that I did not avenge myself—My great medicine work—I rise in the estimation of my new friends—An Indian encampment—Am offered a wife, but compelled to decline the honour—John Pipestick—Surrounded by enemies—A fierce attack—We fight with desperation, and resolve to die like brave men.
Chapter Six. - Our powder expended—I believe that my last moment has arrived—Unexpected succour—A dangerous predicament—Obed’s gallantry—Our enemies take to flight—We recommence our journey—Generosity of the old chief—Offers me two wives instead of one—Obed’s narrative—How he escaped from the bear—A fresh alarm—The approach of a stranger.
Chapter Seven. - The Dacotahs are again upon us—We hurry to the rescue—We preserve the life of the stranger—Sam Short, the trapper—His adventures—Escape from the red-skins—Desperate combat in the canoe—Sam’s search for his companions—Discovers one in the hands of the Indians—They discover Sam, and he flies—Finds Blount, and together they go in search of Noggin—Again get sight of Noggin, but he is fastened to a stake—Noggin shows that in spite of his name he is a hero.
Chapter Eight. - Obed’s story continued—Noggin rescued by the chief’s daughter—Sam and Blount retire, hoping that he may be happy—They continue their wanderings—Blount’s death—Sam proceeds alone—Captured by the red-skins—They prepare to kill him—Not liking it, he endeavours to escape from it—Escape and pursuit—A ride for life—Hard pressed for food—Obed’s adventures—How he escaped from the bear—The faithful Delaware.
Chapter Nine. - Obed’s adventures continued—Journey with the Delaware—The prairie on fire—They fly for their lives—A stampedo—A narrow escape on the rock—Long journey—Approach of winter—Their life in a cave—Expected visit from bears—Journey continued—Arrival at the fort—Further adventures with bears and wolves—Save the life of a young chief—Carry him onward till they reach their camp—The young red-skin’s gratitude—End of Obed’s narrative—Fresh alarms—Again the enemy approach.
Chapter Ten. - The red-skins attempt to alarm us—Singularly unsuccessful—The enemy at length commence the assault—We bravely defend our camp—Sam discovers that they are Pawnees and Dacotahs—His device to separate their forces—Discovers Noggin among them dressed as a chief—The enemy retire—Sam’s expedition to rescue Noggin, which I accompany—Our success—Mr and Mrs Noggin—His magnificent appearance as an Indian chief—We push onwards and at length reach the camp of our friends the Raggets.
A restless wanderer leaves the comforts of school and city life to trade his genteel upbringing for the raw world of the American frontier. He takes up residence with the Ragget family, a sturdy clan of settlers carving a life from the dense woods of Missouri, learning the rhythm of axes, fire, and hard labor. Their evenings around a stone hearth turn to lively talks of the California gold rush, sparking a daring decision to join a wagon train bound for the West.
The narrative follows the ragtag party as they abandon their farms, loading wagons with families, provisions, and hope, then trekking across the open plains and rugged Rockies. Along the way they confront the untamed landscape—rivers, buffalo herds, and the looming presence of Native tribes—while the constant threat of danger keeps every step tense. Listeners will feel the crack of rifles, the rustle of trees, and the relentless drive of pioneers seeking fortune on the horizon.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (448K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
Release date
2007-05-15
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1814–1880
Best known for lively sea stories and adventure tales, this Victorian writer helped shape generations of young readers' taste for travel, danger, and moral courage. His books drew on a life that stretched between London and Portugal, giving his fiction an outward-looking, international feel.
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