Books with title The Scouts of the Valley

When Stephen, raised as an orphan, learns that he has inherited an estate in the Cornish countryside, he has no idea what to expect. And when he arrives at Lansbury Hall, there is no one to greet him...or so he thinks. But waiting for Stephen are his great uncle's diary of a journey long ago up the Amazon with a native guide...and a hidden valley filled with creatures from the Amazon rainforest.

The Scouts of the Valley is a historical fiction novel which depicts the Battle of Wyoming in rural Pennsylvania during the American Revolutionary War. In this fast-paced novel, we hear the tale of how British forces fought the American revolutionary army alongside the Native American tribe known as the Iroquois. The vivid battle scenes are inspired from eyewitness accounts and narratives, with the rugged natural topography of the countryside forming an idyllic backdrop to the frenzy of the War of Independence. Altsheler displays his characteristic descriptions of the natural world here, portraying rural Pennsylvania as a beautiful and unsettled land. The characters, British, American and Iroquois alike are described vividly, as we hear of the gradual run up to the battle wherein British scouts attempted to recruit warriors from many tribes to the cause of suppressing the colonial rebellion. Despite the beauty and tranquillity of the rivers, hills and valleys, the tension rises as the fateful day of the battle approaches. Joseph A. Altsheler was a prolific author, spending much of his working life researching centuries of established historical accounts for his books. He was particularly focused upon the 18th and 19th centuries, producing several series of novels which describe pivotal events in history often through the eyes of ordinary people who happened to play a part.

The Scouts of the Valley is a historical fiction novel which depicts the Battle of Wyoming in rural Pennsylvania during the American Revolutionary War. In this fast-paced novel, we hear the tale of how British forces fought the American revolutionary army alongside the Native American tribe known as the Iroquois. The vivid battle scenes are inspired from eyewitness accounts and narratives, with the rugged natural topography of the countryside forming an idyllic backdrop to the frenzy of the War of Independence. Altsheler displays his characteristic descriptions of the natural world here, portraying rural Pennsylvania as a beautiful and unsettled land. The characters, British, American and Iroquois alike are described vividly, as we hear of the gradual run up to the battle wherein British scouts attempted to recruit warriors from many tribes to the cause of suppressing the colonial rebellion.

CHAPTER I. THE LONE CANOEA light canoe of bark, containing a single human figure, moved swiftly up one of the twin streams that form the Ohio. The water, clear and deep, coming through rocky soil, babbled gently at the edges, where it lapped the land, but in the center the full current flowed steadily and without noise.The thin shadows of early dusk were falling, casting a pallid tint over the world, a tint touched here and there with living fire from the sun, which was gone, though leaving burning embers behind. One glowing shaft, piercing straight through the heavy forest that clothed either bank, fell directly upon the figure in the boat, as a hidden light illuminates a great picture, while the rest is left in shadow. It was no common forest runner who sat in the middle of the red beam. Yet a boy, in nothing but years, he swung the great paddle with an ease and vigor that the strongest man in the West might have envied. His rifle, with the stock carved beautifully, and the long, slender blue barrel of the border, lay by his side. He could bring the paddle into the boat, grasp the rifle, and carry it to his shoulder with a single, continuous movement.His most remarkable aspect, one that the casual observer even would have noticed, was an extraordinary vitality. He created in the minds of those who saw him a feeling that he lived intensely every moment of his life. Born and-bred in the forest, he was essentially its child, a perfect physical being, trained by the utmost hardship and danger, and with every faculty, mental and physical, in complete coordination. It is only by a singular combination of time and place, and only once in millions of chances, that Nature produces such a being.

A light canoe of bark, containing a single human figure, moved swiftly up one of the twin streams that form the Ohio. The water, clear and deep, coming through rocky soil, babbled gently at the edges, where it lapped the land, but in the center the full current flowed steadily and without noise. The thin shadows of early dusk were falling, casting a pallid tint over the world, a tint touched here and there with living fire from the sun, which was gone, though leaving burning embers behind. One glowing shaft, piercing straight through the heavy forest that clothed either bank, fell directly upon the figure in the boat, as a hidden light illuminates a great picture, while the rest is left in shadow. It was no common forest runner who sat in the middle of the red beam. Yet a boy, in nothing but years, he swung the great paddle with an ease and vigor that the strongest man in the West might have envied. His rifle, with the stock carved beautifully, and the long, slender blue barrel of the border, lay by his side. He could bring the paddle into the boat, grasp the rifle, and carry it to his shoulder with a single, continuous movement.

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

Henry awoke only once, and that was about half way between midnight and morning, when his senses, never still entirely, even in sleep, warned him that something was at the door. He rose cautiously upon his arm, saw a dark muzzle at the crevice, and behind it a pair of yellow, gleaming eyes. He knew at once that it was a panther, probably living in the swamp and drawn by the food.

The Scouts of the Valley is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander) Altsheler is in the English language, and may not include graphics or images from the original edition. If you enjoy the works of Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander) Altsheler then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection.