The Antelope Boy; or, Smoholler the Medicine Man

Set against the rugged banks of the Columbia River, a small surveying expedition pushes into the untamed lands of the Yakima. Led by the seasoned Scotsman Owen Blaikie and the sharp‑witted Yankee Cyrus Robbins, the party is guarded by twelve soldiers and a grizzled hunter named Gummery Glyndon. Among them are two lively cousins—both called Percy—who provide both steady courage and comic relief as they haul the survey chain through the wilderness. Their contrasting looks and personalities make them unforgettable companions on this early‑stage trek.

As night falls and a fire crackles, the camp’s uneasy calm is broken by rumors of a mysterious medicine man known as Smoholler, said to command the spirit of the antelope boy. The men and boys find themselves drawn into a web of local legend and looming danger, where the line between superstition and survival blurs. With humor, bravery, and a touch of the unknown, the first act sets the stage for a frontier adventure that tests loyalties and uncovers hidden mysteries.