The Hunters of the Ozark

by Edward Sylvester Ellis

"The Hunters of the Ozark" by Edward Sylvester Ellis is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story is set in the southwestern part of what would become Missouri and follows two young boys, Fred Linden and Terence "Terry" Clark, as they embark on a quest to locate a missing cow. This seemingly simple task leads them into a world filled with adventure and danger as they navigate the challenges of early frontier life, including encounters with Native Americans. The opening of the book introduces us to the two boys as they decide to search for Terry's family's cow, which has mysteriously gone missing. As they set out from their small settlement of Greville, the narrative establishes the historical context by describing the frontier environment and the daily lives of settlers. Their initial search leads them through various landscapes, and as they discuss possible scenarios for the cow's disappearance, the tension builds toward a more significant conflict involving Native American characters, specifically an Indian warrior who uses deception to lead them into a trap. The groundwork is laid for an adventurous storyline filled with elements of survival, camaraderie, and cultural interactions typical of the period.