The Man in the Buffalo Hide
The story revolves around a young sailor who becomes embroiled in a plot to steal a valuable cargo of gold and ivory from a ship anchored off the coast of New Guinea. The protagonist's involvement with a mysterious woman, known only as "the Man in the Buffalo Hide," sets him on a perilous journey through the island's treacherous terrain.
By Louis Becke · First published 1887 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Drama · 4,305 words
First lines
Twelve years ago in a North Queensland town I was told the story of "The Man in the Buffalo Hide" by Ned D -- . He (D -- -- ) was then a prosperous citizen, having made a small fortune by "striking it rich" on the Gilbert and Etheridge Rivers goldfields. Returning from the arid wastes of the Queensland back country to Sydney, he tired of leading an inactive life, and hearing that gold had been discovered on one of the Solomon Islands, he took passage thither in the Sydney whaling barque _Costa Rica_ packet, and though he returned to Australia without discovering gold in the islands, he had kept one of the most interesting logs of a whaling cruise it has ever been my fortune to read. The master of the whaleship was Captain J. Y. Carpenter, a man who is well known and highly respected, not only in Sydney (where he now resides), but throughout the East Indies and China, where he had lived for over thirty years. And it was from Captain Carpenter who was one of the actors in this twice-told tragedy, that D -- -- heard this story of Chinese vengeance. He (D -- -- ) related it to me in '88, and I wish I could write the tale as well and vividly as he told it. However, I wrote it out for him then and there. Much to our disgust the editor of the little journal to whom we sent the MS., considered it a fairy tale, and cut it down to some two or three hundred words. I mention these apparently unnecessary details merely that the reader may not think that the tale is fiction, for two years or so after, Captain Carpenter corroborated my friend's story.
What this Textopian page supports
The Man in the Buffalo Hide is listed on Textopian as a short story by Louis Becke, dated 1887 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: 1887 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Drama, Thriller, Social Commentary
- Length: 4,305 words
- Structure: 1 section, 47 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Man in the Buffalo Hide 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 Man in the Buffalo Hide?
- How does this short story by Louis Becke fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Vagrant by Richard Harding Davis
- The Trader by Louis Becke
- Solepa by Louis Becke
- The Rangers Of The Tia Kau by Louis Becke
- The Strange Adventure Of James Shervinton by Louis Becke
- A Memory Of The System by Louis Becke
Genres
- Historical Fiction — The narrative is set against a historical backdrop, exploring events and characters from a specific time period.
- Adventure — The plot involves a journey and the exploration of themes related to danger and survival.
- Drama — The story contains intense emotional themes, focusing on human suffering and moral dilemmas.
- Thriller — The tension surrounding the fate of the prisoner and the actions of the mandarin create a suspenseful atmosphere.
Tags
Adventure · Fiction · Historical Fiction · Literary Fiction · Sea Story · Pirate Fiction · Colonialism · Imperialism · Exploration · Travelogue · Maritime History · 19th Century Literature