The Dark Woods

By John J. Law

"We're going through the Dark Woods."
"Pa, with all due respect, is that such a good idea? I mean, I've heard a lot of stories about them woods. And all them stories are bad."
Young Bob Weiss spoke with a lot of fear and hesitation. He had heard a lot of stories about the dark woods, stories from men and friendly Indians. The tales spoke of strange dangers inside the woods, of getting lost and almost never getting out, and a savage tribe of unknown Indians that lived in the woods. The tribe was said to be small, but more fierce and savage than any of the known tribes, hostile or friendly. They were also said to know the woods instinctively, almost like they were a part of the woods themselves. This only made them even more formidable considering that it was so easy to get lost in the Dark woods.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.C. Hulsey Books
• Release date: Dec 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223945246

Book preview

One: The Legends Are True

It had actually been a good expedition for Mort Weiss and his group. They had managed to procure a lot of furs and even trade with some of the friendlier tribes of the area. This was definitely welcome news for everyone in their little troop considering the general area was still relatively unknown and uncharted. It was even better for Weiss, who was showing his son Robert the ropes of the business. Bob Weiss was a feisty lad of eighteen years and was slowly coming into adulthood. Mort Weiss had brought his son along, and the expedition was a way to ease his son into the ins and outs of their line of work. And so far, it had gone very well, indeed.

For trappers like Weiss, going into the unknown was simply part of their job and they would take whatever good things came their way. It was a good outcome for their expedition, and morale was high in the group as they headed back to their fort. And that was when Weiss decided to go into the deep woods.

We're going through the Dark Woods.

Pa, with all due respect, is that such a good idea? I mean, I've heard a lot of stories about them woods. And all them stories are bad.

Young Bob Weiss spoke with a lot of fear and hesitation. He had heard a lot of stories about the dark woods, stories from men and friendly Indians. The tales spoke of strange dangers inside the woods, of getting lost and almost never getting out, and a savage tribe of unknown Indians that lived in the woods. The tribe was said to be small, but more fierce and savage than any of the known tribes, hostile or friendly. They were also said to know the woods instinctively, almost like they were a part of the woods themselves. This only made them even more formidable considering that it was so easy to get lost in the Dark woods.

All them stories you've heard about the woods is a bunch of nonsense if you ask me, son. We're mountain men. We make it our job to go into the unknown, all the time. We've charted territories, mapped out trails and discovered stuff most men only dream about. The unknown and danger is an inherent part of our job. I can't see what would make a small patch of woods any different. And we're already late as it is. We go through them woods we cut a lot of time getting back to the fort, instead of going around them. Would be a lot more efficient if you ask me.

Mort Weiss was a seasoned trapper.  As a longtime mountain man, he had gone through rugged and unknown territory and come back to tell the tale. His eyes had seen a lot of unusual things, things most men never get to see in a lifetime. He was the kind of man