The protaganist is a decorated civil war veteran who experiences a variety of dangerous experiences with natural elements and indians. The story is well told and holds the reader's attention throughout.

A story of brothers,buried loot and just who the heck you can trust when money is involved. Rich characterizations,bring a real depth to the people. Not surprised I loved this book. If it's a Wayne Overholser western, the reader is in for a treat.

Wayne D. Overholser's last western is a joy to read and a fitting tribute to an outstanding talent. Del Delaney is accused of a crime he didn't commit and he takes to the outlaw trail, so to speak. He is a good man, and the story revolves around this. Overholser casts his spell with strong characterizations and vivid writing. A fond farewell from this great western writer.

This is a complete reprint of one of the author's 40s pulp novels that has never been published in book form. Overholser shows his mastery of the form weaving togehter several threads into an exciting tale. ALong with the requisite love interest and cattle rustling plot, there is the mysterious Carne's Cove where the Carne family has built a fortified gate to keep outsiders from glimpsing their properties. There is plenty of gunplay in the pulp tradition and all of the threads are gathered at the end to Form the denoument of an excellent Western adventure. Overholser is a must for any Western fan.

This novel won the 1954 Spur Award for best western novel of the year. The story focuses on the eighteen-year-old Dan Nathans who is traveling with his parents and young brother to settle in a region of southeastern Oregon. Dan, who is alienated with his father, goes to work for a local, and powerful, cattleman. He soon finds himself caught in a feud between the cattleman and the settlers. He is also caught between his affections for a young woman, who is believed to be of ill repute, and his own upbringing. The reader sees him mature through the novel.