Adrift on the Amazon

"Adrift on the Amazon" by Leo E. Miller is an adventure novel written in the early 20th century. It follows a strong‑willed young American, David “Fighting” Jones, whose hunger for open-country work sends him deep into the Amazon, where he must navigate tropical hardships, dubious allies, and the mystery surrounding a perilous ranch called Las Palmas. The opening follows David’s clash with authority at home and at work, his resolve to abandon city life, and his parents’ reluctant consent to send him to South America. After a stormy Atlantic crossing, he reaches the Amazon, marvels at Pará and Manaos, and discovers that no one from Las Palmas has come for him; a family emissary, Rogers, tries to dissuade him, and locals warn that Rice and his ranch have a fearsome reputation. Unable to hire a launch—captains refuse to land at Las Palmas—he finally secures passage upriver with Venezuelan traders in a large batalao. As they push into the Solimões, he learns river life—yerba maté mornings, poling through shallows, the vast marsh flora—and thrills at a first attempt to harpoon a giant pirarucú, signaling the dangers and wonders that lie ahead.

Adrift on the Amazon, by Leo E. Miller. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #77361.