The Escapee by Louis Becke (1882)
A young man named Harry Monk, an overseer in North Queensland, embarks on a cattle search along a desolate beach. The oppressive heat forces him to dismount and lead his horse to a sandstone bluff, where he finds native wells. After quenching their thirst, Monk observes the coastline and suddenly spots a white man being pursued by six Indigenous Australians. He intervenes, shooting two of the attackers but arrives too late to save the man, who is gravely wounded by a spear. The injured man, later identified as Kellerman, a notorious escapee from a New Caledonian prison, is initially reluctant to accept help. Monk, recognizing Kellerman's identity, decides to assist him. He offers to provide food, water, and shelter for the night, planning to return to the station for more supplies. Kellerman, grateful yet wary, insists he does not want to be betrayed and promises not to harm any white men. As they converse, Kellerman shares his harrowing backstory, detailing his escape and the hardships he faced. He reveals the existence of gold in a nearby creek, urging Monk to prospect it and share the wealth with his family if he does not survive. Monk writes down the directions and departs, taking precautions against potential encounters with the native police. However, upon returning to the bluff, Monk finds Kellerman dead, having shot himself to avoid capture. The police, having tracked Monk, discover the scene. In the aftermath, Monk leaves North Queensland wealthy and later travels to France, where he marries Kellerman's sister, thus intertwining their fates.
By Louis Becke · First published 1882 · Genre: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Drama · 3,392 words
First lines
One hot, steaming morning, a young man, named Harry Monk, was riding along a desolate stretch of seashore on the coast of North Queensland, looking for strayed cattle. He had slept, the previous evening, on the grassy summit of a headland which overlooked the surrounding low-lying country for many miles, and at dawn had been awakened by the lowing of cattle at no great distance from his lonely camping-place, and knew that he would probably discover the beasts he sought somewhere along the banks of a tidal creek five miles distant. Although the sun was not yet high the heat was intense, and his horse, even at a walking pace, was already bathed in sweat. The country to his right was grim, brown, forbidding, and treeless, save for an occasional clump of sandal-wood, and devoid of animal life except the ever-hovering crows and a wandering fish-eagle or two. To the left lay the long, long line of dark, coarse-sanded beach, upon which the surf broke with violence as the waves sped shoreward from the Great Barrier Reef, five leagues away.
What this Textopian page supports
The Escapee is listed on Textopian as a short story by Louis Becke, dated 1882 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Louis Becke
- Date: 1882 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Drama, Western, Thriller
- Length: 3,392 words
- Structure: 1 section, 49 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Escapee by Louis Becke
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Escapee?
- How does this short story by Louis Becke fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Adventure first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Bobaran by Louis Becke
- The Fate Of The Alida by Louis Becke
- Rodman The Boatsteerer by Louis Becke
- Tom Wallis by Louis Becke
- The Strange Adventure Of James Shervinton by Louis Becke
- Solepa by Louis Becke
Genres
- Adventure — The plot centers around a thrilling escape and survival in a harsh environment, featuring action and exploration.
- Historical Fiction — The story is set against the backdrop of colonial Australia and references historical events and societal issues of the time.
- Drama — The narrative explores deep emotional themes, including sacrifice, loyalty, and the human condition.
- Western — The setting and character archetypes align with Western genre conventions, including the lone hero and conflict with indigenous peoples.
Tags
Adventure · Fiction · Literary Fiction · Classic Novel · Sea Story · Pirate Fiction · Historical Fiction · 19th Century Literature · Male Protagonist · Coming of Age · Self-Discovery · Identity Crisis