
Chapter One. - An Encounter in the Wood.
Chapter Two. - A Surrender.
Chapter Three. - On Parole.
Chapter Four. - A Raid on the Larder.
Chapter Five. - Duty or Mercy.
Chapter Six. - A Good Appetite.
Chapter Seven. - Secret Preparations.
Chapter Eight. - Helping the Fugitive.
Chapter Nine. - In Hiding.
Chapter Ten. - Alarming Sounds.
In the heart of the New Forest a restless boy sets out with a battered fishing rod, determined to snag a trout despite the tangled bracken and prickly furze that seem determined to trip him up. The narrative paints the autumn woods in lush detail—gold‑kissed heather, ancient oaks, and a hidden stream that whispers through a narrow valley, all observed through the boy’s sharp, humorous eye. As he wrestles with his gear and watches a flash of green‑capped woodpecker dart above, his simple pastime feels like the first step into a larger, unknown world.
Soon the forest’s quiet routine hints at something more than idle sport. A chance encounter, a misplaced object, and the rustle of unseen footsteps suggest that the boy may be drawn into secret movements that have long used these woods as cover. Listeners will be pulled into a tale where youthful curiosity meets mystery, set against the timeless backdrop of England’s most storied woodland.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (189K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
Release date
2007-11-15
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1831–1909
A hugely productive Victorian storyteller, he wrote adventure tales, school stories, and historical fiction that kept generations of young readers turning pages. Before becoming a full-time author, he worked as a teacher, editor, and journalist, experiences that gave his fiction its lively, practical feel.
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