 The
Hunters of the Ozark
Edward S. Ellis
Phoenix International, Inc.
ISBN 0-9713470-2-6
6 x 9 Paperback
224 pages with 4 illustrations
$19.95
The
date and events set out in this first volume of a series of three,
is at the close of the eighteenth century in the southwestern part
of the present state of Missouri, but which was then a part of the
vast territory known as Louisiana. Though the town of St. Louis had
been settled some years earlier, there were only a few pioneer settlements
scattered through the almost limitless region that stretched in every
direction from the Mississippi River. Greville was such a settlement
south of St. Louis and its settlers numbered about two hundred, including
men, women and children. Each autumn a party of hunters and trappers
from Greville made regular visits to the Ozark Mountains, about one
hundred miles to the south, for the purpose of gathering furs. This
autumn the group included George Linden, Rufus Harding and James Bowlby.
Their plan was to be in the camp in the mountains until spring but
James Bowlby would be injured and that injury would set the scene
for this story. Fred Linden, George Linden's sixteen year old son
would be sent a message by his father, through Deerfoot, a young Shawanoe
warrior to join them for the hunt. Fred says goodby to his mother
and sister and sets out afoot to become a member of the hunting party
in the Ozarks. He will surprisedly be joined along the way by his
best friend, fifteen year old Irish orphan, Terry Clark. Their trek
south is of high suspense and personal danger and requires the intercession
of the masterful Shawanoe warrior, Deerfoot on numerous occasions.
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