The Hunter by James Aldridge. Short summary

5 seconds

Hunter Roy McNair approaches the village of St. Helen. He remembers a buddy who disappeared 12 years ago. Roy thinks there is little game left in the local woods, and he must go north.

1 minute

Roy McNair knew the woods well, for he was a hunter. He walked up the slope and soon saw the village of St. Ellen. He remembered walking there with his friend Jack. Along the way was a ruined farmhouse, the sight of which saddened him. It had to do with a friend, Andy, who had gone missing 12 years earlier. The man feared he would return and ruin his life.

The hero feared he might run into a fur inspector along the way. He didn’t make it home before dark and tried his best to take a shortcut. Finally Roy comes out to the settlement and meets Farmer Jack. He warns the hunter that if he meets the inspector and he finds furs in excess of noma, the man will have his hunting claim taken away, his right to hunt, and he will be put on trial.

Soon Roy would have to go north, in search of new prey. Previously, he had hunted in the territory of an Indian tribe. The Indians had once been driven from there and for about 200 years the reservation had fed hunters and farmers. Roy was convinced that soon there would be nothing to hunt in those areas.