The Hunters of the Hills: A Story of the Great French and Indian War

Joseph Alexander Altsheler

Jan 1920 · Copp, Clark Company

About this ebook

Excerpt: ...the town." "Food first," said the hunter. "We've come a long journey on the river and we'll test the quality of the, inn." It was too cool for the little terrace that adjoined the Inn of the Eagle, and Monsieur Berryer had a table set for them in the great dining-room, which had an oaken floor, oaken beams and much china and glass on shelves about the walls, the whole forming an apartment in which the host took a just pride. It was gayer and brighter than the inns of Albany and New York, and again Robert found his spirit responding to it. A fire of light wood that blazed and sparkled merrily burned in a huge stone fireplace at the end of the room, and its grateful warmth entered into Robert's blood. He suddenly felt a great exaltation. He was glad to be there. He was glad that Tayoga and Willet were with him. He was glad that they had encountered dangers on their journey because they had won a triumph in overcoming them, and by the very act of victory they had increased their own strength and confidence. His sensitive, imaginative nature, easily kindled to supreme efforts, thrilled with the thoughts of the great deeds they might do. His pleasure in the company and the atmosphere increased. Everything about him made a strong appeal to good taste. At the end of the room, opposite the fireplace, stood a vast sideboard, upon which china and glass, arranged in harmonious groups, shone and glittered. The broad shelves or niches in the walls held much cut glass, which now and then threw back from many facets the ruddy light of the fire. Before sitting down, they had dipped their hands in a basin of white china filled with water, and standing beside the door, and that too had pleased Robert's fastidious taste. At their table each of the three found an immaculate white napkin, a large white china plate and goblet, knife, fork and spoon, all of silver, polished to the last degree. Again Robert's nature responded and he looked at himself in his fine dress in...

About the author

Joseph Alexander Altsheler was born in 1862 in Three Springs, Kentucky. Altsheler's family immigrated from Germany and operated a store in Three Springs where he was raised above the store. He did not pursue his family's mercantile efforts but instead took up journalism, after spending one year at Vanderbilt University. Altsheler eventually ended up in New York City, and became the editor of the New York World. He wrote serial as well as stand alone works, beginning with the French-Indian War Series and ending with World War I. Altsheler turned to writing in the late 1800s, first publishing magazine stories which were converted to books, but eventually devoted the majority of his literary efforts to books, continuing to write for magazines such as Harper's, Lippincotts, and Munsey's World. His serial works cover the French-Indian War, the American Revolution, the Texan War for Independence, the Civil War, the settlement of the west, and World War I. The stand alone works covered the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the conflict with the Northwestern tribes, the Civil War, settling the west, and two political/journalist works. In all, he wrote nearly fifty books and many short stories for magazines. Altsheler's most famous series is called The Young Trailers. It contains eight books, and was popular with boys and girls from its initial printing in the early 1900s. Joseph Altsheler died in 1919, and is buried with his wife and son in Three Springs.