
A lone rider in a bright Mexican outfit battles a sudden storm as he races along a winding tributary of the Gila. The harsh heat, restless insects, and looming thunder create a vivid backdrop for his relentless push toward an unseen destination, while his trusty horse waits hidden in the forest, poised for whatever lies ahead.
When the tempest finally eases, the rider—Don Pablo—finds himself face‑to‑face with Ellen, the spirited daughter of Red Cedar. Their brief, wordless exchange hints at a deep bond forged by shared hardships and a promise of safety amidst the wilderness. Together they head toward a modest jacal perched against a rock, a humble shelter that may become the starting point of a larger adventure.
The opening sets the stage for a tale of rugged landscapes, daring pursuits, and the fragile ties that hold people together in an untamed world, inviting listeners to follow Don Pablo’s journey through the Rocky Mountains and beyond.
Language
en
Duration
~9 hours (574K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Camilo Bernard and Marc D'Hooghe (Scans at the Internet Archive, by Google)
Release date
2013-02-17
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1818–1883
Best remembered for fast-paced adventure novels set in the American West and Mexico, this 19th-century French writer turned years of travel into stories full of scouts, frontier conflict, and dramatic escapes. His books helped feed Europe's fascination with the Wild West.
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