Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net [Illustration: He met the hot-mouthed, vicious brute, his rude spear clasped in both hands] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FAR PAST THE FRONTIER By JAMES A. BRADEN Illustrated by W. H. FRY C Akron, Ohio THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING CO. New York--Chicago MADE IN U. S. A. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright, 1902 By The Saalfield Publishing Company ---------------------------------------------------------------------- CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I The Flight of Big Pete Ellis. 5 II A Bound Boy's Story. 19 III The Beginning of a Perilous Journey. 32 IV The Man Under the Bed. 47 V A Mysterious Shot in the Darkness. 62 VI On Lonely Mountain Roads. 76 VII On Into the Wilderness. 91 VIII Friends or Foes? 105 IX The Scalp at Big Buffalo's Belt. 121 X A Night With the Indians. 134 XI Again a Hidden Enemy. 150 XII Building a Cabin. 164 XIII The Strange Story of Arthur Bridges. 179 XIV Treed by Wolves. 192 XV A Maple Sugar Camp in the Wilderness. 206 XVI The Hatred of Big Buffalo. 219 XVII Danger. 232 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FAR PAST THE FRONTIER. CHAPTER I. The Flight of Big Pete Ellis. "Look out thar!" A young, red-bearded man of herculean frame fiercely jerked the words between his teeth as he leaped between two boys who were about to enter the country store, from the door of which he sprang. Diving aside, but quickly turning, the lads saw the cause of their sudden movement bound into a wagon standing near, and with a furious cry to the horses, whip them to such instant, rapid speed that the strap with which the animals were tied, snapped like a bit of string. With a clatter and rumbling roar the team and wagon dashed around a corner, the clumsy vehicle all but upsetting, as the wheels on one side flew clear of the ground. Running forward, the boys were in time to see, fast disappearing down the road toward where the September sun was setting, the reckless driver bending over, lashing the horses to a frantic gallop. The wagon swayed and jolted over the ruts and holes, threatening momentarily to throw the fellow headlong. An empty barrel in the box bounced up and down and from side to side like a thing alive. "Something has happened! Big Pete isn't doing that for fun!" the larger of the boys exclaimed. "Run for Dr. Cartwright, quick! Big Pete has killed Jim Huson, I'm afraid!"