
A restless boy named Jeff feels more at home in the whisper of the river and the rustle of fern than within the cramped walls of his classroom. The spring day hums with insects and songbirds, and he slips away during recess, diving into the cool water to watch trout glide beneath moss‑covered stones. That brief escape fuels his imagination, letting him dream of a world beyond the chores and expectations that await him at home.
Back in town, Jeff becomes the target of a boisterous gang of classmates who taunt him for “playing hookey.” Their relentless teasing and a sudden confrontation with a frightened little girl push him into a tense stand‑off that tests his quiet courage. As the day unfolds, Jeff’s inner resolve begins to surface, hinting at the larger choices he will soon have to make in a world that seems determined to keep him confined.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (390K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Mary Starr, and David Widger
Release date
1999-08-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1871–1954
Best known for fast-moving Westerns, this British-born American novelist turned frontier settings into vivid, popular adventures. He wrote prolifically for decades, with stories ranging from cowboys and rangers to the Klondike.
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