
Set against the sweeping, untamed prairies of the American West, the story opens on a quiet riverbank where three hunters pause for breakfast. The narrator paints the landscape in lush detail—endless water, floating islands of vegetation, flocks of flamingos, and the distant hum of wildlife. As the men relax with pipe, cigar, and a brief nap, the scene invites listeners into a world where nature’s grandeur rivals human ambition.
Among them is Bright‑eye, a seasoned half‑breed guide whose life among the tribes has made him both rugged and insightful. His towering, wiry frame and sharp, friendly gaze hint at a man comfortable in the wilderness yet haunted by its hidden dangers. As the trio prepares to continue their hunt, the narrative promises a blend of frontier adventure, cultural encounters, and the looming mysteries of the great river’s banks.
Language
en
Duration
~9 hours (547K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Camille Bernard and Marc D'Hooghe (Scans generously made available by the Bodleian Library at Oxford)
Release date
2013-10-10
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

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.
View all books