
In the sun‑scorched outback of New South Wales, a lone horseman races against time to save his ailing six‑year‑old son. With his trusted mare Bess straining under the heat, every thundering hoofbeat carries the weight of a desperate hope, while the harsh landscape offers no shade or easy water. The narrator paints a vivid picture of isolation, stubborn pride, and a bond that drives a man to push both himself and his animal companion to the brink.
As the rider spots the distant silhouette of Swamp Creek, the promise of a doctor—flawed but compassionate—appears like a lifeline. The tension builds around the impending arrival, hinting at the rugged realities of frontier life and the fierce loyalty that sustains the characters. Listeners are drawn into a pulse‑quickening chase that balances raw hardship with an unyielding love for family and the steadfast spirit of a horse.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (332K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Griff Evans, Beginners Projects and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2011-03-06
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1857–1919
Best known for fast-moving racing stories, this prolific Victorian-era novelist turned his deep knowledge of the turf into hugely popular entertainment. His books brought horse-racing drama to a wide readership and helped make him one of the best-known sporting novelists of his day.
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