
Chapter One. - A Deadly Introduction.
Chapter Two. - The Settlement.
Chapter Three. - Elias Rody.
Chapter Four. - Cris Carrol.
Chapter Five. - Plain Speech.
Chapter Six. - Crookleg.
Chapter Seven. - The Two Chiefs.
Chapter Eight. - Sansuta.
Chapter Nine. - The Indian Village.
Chapter Ten. - An Appointment Kept by Deputy.
The tale opens on a twilight‑lit night along Tampa Bay, where the chorus of frogs, hawks and distant wildlife is broken by a desperate human cry. A young frontiersman, rifle in hand, follows the sound through tangled undergrowth, his senses sharpened by the darkness. He stumbles upon a grim scene on the shore: two Seminole youths, one already fallen, the other poised with a tomahawk, about to strike. The hunter’s quick actions save the wounded boy, whose faint pulse hints at a fragile hope amid the violence.
From that moment the story moves beyond the immediate rescue, drawing listeners into the tangled world of Florida’s frontier. Rivalries between settlers and the native Seminole tribe begin to surface, as cultural misunderstandings and the harsh realities of survival clash. As the young rescuer tends the injured Indian, questions arise about loyalty, honor, and the looming dangers that threaten both peoples. The opening promises a tense, atmospheric adventure rooted in the wild beauty of the Everglades and the fragile bonds forged in its shadows.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (260K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
Release date
2011-07-03
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1818–1883
Adventure, danger, and wide-open landscapes fill these classic stories by an Irish-born novelist who turned his own restless life into fiction. His books helped shape the popular image of the American frontier for generations of young readers.
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