
Chapter One. - Part I—The Moors and Fens of England. - In the Depths of the Forest—Frank and his Toad—A Day with the Hounds—The Furies’ Leap—“That Fox was my Fate.”
Chapter Two. - Frank undergoes the Process of “Hardening Off”—Camp-life on the Banks of the Thames—A Week among Rabbits—“’Ware Hare.”
Chapter Three. - Frank is thoroughly “Hardened Off”—Deer-stalking in the Highlands—Partridge, Pheasant, and Duck Shooting—“Good-bye”—“None but the Brave deserve the Fair.”
Chapter Four. - Part II—The Polar Ice-Fields. - Outward bound—Night in the Pack—The Aurora—The awful Silence of the Ice-fields—Seals! Seals!—The Battle with the Bladder-noses—Jack in the Box with a Vengeance—A Fight with Walruses.
Chapter Five. - The West Land of Greenland—A Fall! a Fall!—Danger on all Sides—“Man the Ice-saws”—Working for Life—Beset in the Dreary Pack.
Chapter Six. - Winter in the Ice-fields—The Ice breaks up—Sailing South—A Sledge Adventure—The Storm and Shipwreck—Afloat on an Iceberg—Land! land!—A terrible Journey—Cronstadt.
Chapter Seven. - Part III—The Russian Steppes. - Quiet days on the Kyra—Captain Varde’s happy Home—Fred Freeman’s Rustic Russian—The Captain tells a tale of Adventure.
Chapter Eight. - The Captain’s tale continued—Winter brings the Bears from the Mountains—The Tragedy in the Forest—Bears at Bay—Breast to breast with Bruin—Fred Freeman falls in love!
Chapter Nine. - The Russian Steppes (concluded). - Pleasant Times—A Glorious Hide—A Happy Christmas—Boar-hunting—Attacked by Wolves.
Chapter Ten. - Part IV—The Wilds of Africa. - Off to the Cape—Among the Rock Rabbits—A Wild Ride—Lost on the plains.
Frank Willoughby drifts through the quiet glades of Epping Forest, a book abandoned at his feet and a thoughtful toad perched nearby. The summer light filters through the leaves, turning the mossy floor to gold and filling the air with the chatter of insects and birds. In this secluded world, Frank finds a rare peace, sharing crumbs and silent conversation with his amphibian companion while the forest hums around them.
His reverie is broken when the lively voice of his old friend Chisholm bursts through the trees, laughter echoing off the trunks. Chisholm’s sudden appearance and teasing remarks about Byron and secret crushes pull Frank back into the world of human concerns. The pair’s banter reveals a hidden affection that has driven Frank to hide among the trees, and the toad watches bemusedly as old friendships rekindle. The scene sets the stage for a gentle adventure of love, friendship, and the pull between solitude and society.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (211K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
Release date
Dec 10, 2011
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1840–1910
A navy surgeon turned storyteller, he poured his seafaring experience into fast-moving adventure tales that captivated young Victorian readers. His books mix action, travel, and a practical enthusiasm for the outdoors.
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