# The Woodranger

By George Waldo Browne.

The Woodranger by George Waldo Browne is a historical adventure novel written in the late 19th century. Set on the colonial frontier along the Merrimack River, it follows the Scotch‑Irish youth Norman McNiel, his foster‑sister Rilma, and their Highland grandfather as they navigate land rivalries between Massachusetts grantees and Londonderry settlers. With the enigmatic Woodranger acting as scout, guide, and moral compass, the story mixes wilderness hunts, frontier justice, and community contests. The opening of The Woodranger frames the 1740s “debatable grounds” dispute between New Hampshire and Massachusetts before plunging into action: Norman watches a wounded deer leap from Rock Rimmon after a shot by Christo, a lone Pennacook, and is then seized by Gunwad, a zealous deer‑reeve, for killing game out of season. Woodranger intervenes, and a horn from Norman’s grandfather pulls him home, where he saves Rilma from a wildcat attack—finished by a timely shot from young Johnny Stark—then accepts an invite to a coming canoe match. At dawn, Woodranger escorts him to be tried locally by ’Squire Blanchard; along the way a comic stop with Zack Bitlock (who has mistakenly cultivated mullein for tobacco) lightens the mood. In court, Woodranger shows the bullet is Indian‑made and that the deer died from its fall, not Norman’s hand; the dog’s role can’t be proved, and Norman is acquitted. When Gunwad slanders Norman’s lineage, Woodranger silences him, and the crowd shifts to the eagerly awaited shooting‑match—signaling that personal grudges, local pride, and frontier tests will drive the tale forward. (Summary by Project Gutenberg, written by machine.)

- Language: English
- Illustrator: L. J. Bridgman
- Subjects: Animals -- Juvenile fiction; Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction; Adventure stories; Hunting stories; Frontier and pioneer life -- Juvenile fiction; Youth -- Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction; Outdoor life -- Juvenile fiction; Parent and child -- Juvenile fiction; Hunters -- Juvenile fiction; Boundary disputes -- Juvenile fiction; New England -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775 -- Juvenile fiction

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From Project Gutenberg. Public domain in the United States.