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The Night Riders: A Romance of Early Montana
In 'The Night Riders', John Tresler heads west to learn the ways of ranching from Julian Marbolt, a blind rancher with a beautiful daughter, Diane. However, Tresler immediately finds himself at odds with the bullying foreman, Jake Harnach, who has set his sights on Diane. As Tresler and Diane grow closer, Harnach becomes increasingly aggressive in his attempts to keep them apart. Will love prevail in the face of Harnach's violent opposition, or will Tresler and Diane be forced to give up their dreams?
268 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1906
About the author
Ridgwell Cullum
142 books4 followersPseudonym of Sidney Groves Burghard
Ridgwell Cullum was a British adventurer who left England at age seventeen to go gold-prospecting in the Transvaal. He then removed to the Cape of Good Hope, where he joined up with a league of freebooters fighting against the Boers. Unable to keep still, he crossed the seas and settled in the Yukon region of Canada. During his stay in that area, he narrowly escaped starving to death. He next crossed the Canadian border, and became a successful cattle-rancher in Montana. It is said that during this period he took part in Sioux uprisings on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations. In 1903, Cullum published his first novel, The Devil's Keg. After its immediate success, Cullum decided to become a full-time writer. Dozens of novels followed throughout a career of nearly forty years. His principal early works include, Hound from the North (1904), The Night Riders (1906), and The Compact (1909). In 1931, these, along with The Purchase Price (1917), were published in an omnibus edition of his works. Despite Zane Grey's success in England, Cullum continued to hold his own in sales and popularity. His characters are larger-than-life, his descriptions vivid, and his plot mechanisms fool-proof.
Ridgwell Cullum was a British adventurer who left England at age seventeen to go gold-prospecting in the Transvaal. He then removed to the Cape of Good Hope, where he joined up with a league of freebooters fighting against the Boers. Unable to keep still, he crossed the seas and settled in the Yukon region of Canada. During his stay in that area, he narrowly escaped starving to death. He next crossed the Canadian border, and became a successful cattle-rancher in Montana. It is said that during this period he took part in Sioux uprisings on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations. In 1903, Cullum published his first novel, The Devil's Keg. After its immediate success, Cullum decided to become a full-time writer. Dozens of novels followed throughout a career of nearly forty years. His principal early works include, Hound from the North (1904), The Night Riders (1906), and The Compact (1909). In 1931, these, along with The Purchase Price (1917), were published in an omnibus edition of his works. Despite Zane Grey's success in England, Cullum continued to hold his own in sales and popularity. His characters are larger-than-life, his descriptions vivid, and his plot mechanisms fool-proof.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 12, 2016
John Tresler is an educated New Englander who pays for the opportunity to work at the biggest ranch in Montana. He may be a 'tenderfoot' but he fits right in with the harsh lifestyle because all like Ridgwell Callum's characters he believes in - to quote one of author's other titles which I had previously read - The Way of the Strong.
Julian Marbolt owns the ranch, a formidable man despite being afflicted with blindness which has given him a sanguinary stare. He has a beautiful young daughter, Dianne. His foreman, Jake, becomes an instant rival to Tresler in more ways than one.
I've already pointed out how in Callum's world the strong man of action is always applauded. Also infallible in his worldview is the notion that all peoples of mixed race ('half-breeds', or just 'Breeds' as he calls them) are inherently inferior and untrustworthy.
Not a pleasant philosophy, though one common amongst frontiersmen (which at one time Callum's was himself) but fortunately not too obtrusive to the effectiveness of the story, which was well told and significantly improved by its support characters.
Best among these were Arizona, a hot-headed cowpuncher who liked to wax idiomatically on whiskey, women and hogs, and the kind-hearted old drunken choreman Joe Nelson, who brought to mind Walter Brennan in all his grizzled glory.
A mysterious rustler known as Red Mask provides the drama in a story with enough grit and surprises to sustain interest to the end.
Julian Marbolt owns the ranch, a formidable man despite being afflicted with blindness which has given him a sanguinary stare. He has a beautiful young daughter, Dianne. His foreman, Jake, becomes an instant rival to Tresler in more ways than one.
I've already pointed out how in Callum's world the strong man of action is always applauded. Also infallible in his worldview is the notion that all peoples of mixed race ('half-breeds', or just 'Breeds' as he calls them) are inherently inferior and untrustworthy.
Not a pleasant philosophy, though one common amongst frontiersmen (which at one time Callum's was himself) but fortunately not too obtrusive to the effectiveness of the story, which was well told and significantly improved by its support characters.
Best among these were Arizona, a hot-headed cowpuncher who liked to wax idiomatically on whiskey, women and hogs, and the kind-hearted old drunken choreman Joe Nelson, who brought to mind Walter Brennan in all his grizzled glory.
A mysterious rustler known as Red Mask provides the drama in a story with enough grit and surprises to sustain interest to the end.
March 3, 2011
John Tresler comes west to learn now to be a rancher. A recent college graduate, he'd apprenticed himself to a rancher named Julian Marbolt for three years. Marbolt was blind and had a beautiful daughter named Diane.
He ran afoul of the foreman, Jake Harnach, immediately, a man who used bullying and intimidation to run the ranch. Tresler wasn't intimidated by the man, which didn't set well. Harnach had already staked out Diane as his own and when the two young people began getting close, hr did everything to discourage them.
And there was also the outlaw gang ravaging the countryside, led by a man known only as Red Mask for the disguise he wore. No one knew who he was and anybody that saw him ended up dead.
Tresler had all that to deal with and old Marbolt wouldn't allow anyone to marry his daughter, "As long as I'm alive."
Young Trelser would find a way to make it all work out.
Liked this one. Found it on Project Gutenberg.
He ran afoul of the foreman, Jake Harnach, immediately, a man who used bullying and intimidation to run the ranch. Tresler wasn't intimidated by the man, which didn't set well. Harnach had already staked out Diane as his own and when the two young people began getting close, hr did everything to discourage them.
And there was also the outlaw gang ravaging the countryside, led by a man known only as Red Mask for the disguise he wore. No one knew who he was and anybody that saw him ended up dead.
Tresler had all that to deal with and old Marbolt wouldn't allow anyone to marry his daughter, "As long as I'm alive."
Young Trelser would find a way to make it all work out.
Liked this one. Found it on Project Gutenberg.
February 8, 2025
What if Robin Hood was cowboys. Five stars.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews