Nick of the Woods; Or, Adventures of Prairie Life

"Nick of the Woods; Or, Adventures of Prairie Life" by Robert Montgomery Bird is a novel published in 1837. Set in 1780s Kentucky, it follows the mysterious figure known as "Nick of the Woods"—a monster-dressed avenger who slaughters Indians and carves crosses on their bodies. By day, he's Nathan Slaughter, a peaceful Quaker bound by creed to avoid violence. This American Gothic tale became Bird's most successful work and a bestseller, noted for its brutal depiction of Native Americans that deliberately countered James Fenimore Cooper's more sympathetic portrayals.

Nick of the Woods; Or, Adventures of Prairie Life, by Robert Montgomery Bird. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #13970.