Out of the Wilderness

A Western Story

By: Max Brand

Narrated by: Barry Press

Peter Dunstan is a big rancher who wants to become bigger, to control more land. So when he buys Dr. Henry Morgan's ranchland that has been unsuccessfully converted to farming, it is his intention to return it to open range. The only stipulation the doctor makes is that Dunstan must retain Sandy Sweyn, who has more or less been Dr. Morgan's ward. Though the man is of age, he is generally considered a half-wit, even by the doctor. Still, Sandy has a fabulous gift: He can communicate with animals. The most refractory and savage bronco will yield to his subtly persuasive methods even when expert horse breakers have failed.

After Sandy gentles the totally recalcitrant gelding that Dunstan has been trying to break to the reins, he claims that his mare, Cleo, though used only for drudgery, could easily outrun the gelding in a race. Dunstan is so contemptuous of this boast that he bets $5,000 and ownership of the gelding if he loses the race. As it turns out, Cleo readily wins.

Rather than indulging his anger, Dunstan decides to use Sandy's gifts to his advantage by getting him seemingly impossible tasks. The problem is that after each of these incredible tasks is accomplished, some personal misfortune befalls Dunstan. Finally Dunstan drives Sandy into the mountain wilderness, where his prowess eventually becomes legendary. But banishment is no solution for Dunstan when he comes to need Sandy more than ever, and his only way of getting him back is to resort to trickery.

©2014 Max Brand (P)2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

You need to listen to this book!!!

I have 360 titles and I have just found the works of max brand… I would trade 350 of these titles for 5 Brand books.. enough said ?

Too many loose ends

The story is good I just don’t like that there were a few characters that we don’t get to see their ending.

Unusual western

Just a great book with an unexpected story. It breaks the traditional mold of the classic western plot. Highly recommend and excellent narrator.

Out of the Wilderness

I was absolutely entertained by this book. If I had been reading the story it would have been hard to put down.

Very fun!

I have listened to dozens of Louis L'Amore books and will admit that I am biased. This was an unexpected delight. It had lots of surprises that distinguished it from the L'More's formula but was traditional and noble enough to put it right up there with his stuff.