James Alexander Thom

The alternating voices of Paddy Quinn, a young man with journalistic aspirations, and Mexican soldier Augustin Juvero recount the story of John Riley, who deserts the American army to fight for Mexico in the Mexican-American War.

A fictional re-creation of the Lewis and Clark expedition focuses on George Drouillard, a French and Shawnee hunter, guide, and interpreter, who keeps the mission going in difficult times.

Mary Ingles is a Virginia homesteader whose family is suddenly attacked by a Shawnee war party. After Mary is taken captive, the leader of the war party is impressed by her courage and strength, and decides to make her his mate. Mary then makes the dangerous decision to escape the Shawnee village with another captive woman. Together they embark on a harrowing journey through the Virginia wilderness toward freedom and home.