
audiobook
by William Henry Giles Kingston
The story opens on an endless prairie in central British North America, where the wind sweeps across tall grasses and the horizon stretches unbroken. A herd of massive bison roams the plain until a band of rugged hunters, their leather garb bright with feathers and paint, rides in, rifles blazing, turning the tranquil landscape into a chaotic tableau of blood and smoke. Amid the frenzy, a lone figure stands out—a weather‑worn, lightly‑skinned trader whose plain clothes and steady aim mark him as both an outsider and a master of the hunt.
As the hunt wanes, the trader's reputation among the warriors grows, hinting at a life spent balancing commerce, survival, and the harsh realities of frontier life. He carries the remnants of past expeditions—a rusted rifle, a skull, and other relics—that whisper of earlier journeys across the same windswept grasslands. Listeners will be drawn into his world of stark beauty, dangerous encounters, and the quiet determination of a man who has learned to navigate a wilderness that spares no one.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (133K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
Release date
2010-11-30
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1814–1880
Best known for fast-moving adventure stories for young readers, this Victorian writer filled his books with sea voyages, survival, and a strong sense of duty. He also helped bring popular European tales to English readers through translation and adaptation.
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