The long patrol

In Short

Deep in the unmapped northern Rockies, Corporal David Dexter of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police discovers a murdered constable and tracks a mysterious fugitive girl named Alison Rayne. As winter tightens its grip, Dexter navigates a labyrinth of outlaws, hidden mountain dens, and an underground network operating out of abandoned telegraph trails. Amid fierce confrontations and bitter cold, Dexter uncovers the truth behind the syndicate, protects the vulnerable, and finds an unexpected romance that changes his life forever, earning his lasting place outside the force.

The Story

Corporal David Dexter of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police spots an unusual drab object on a snowy mountain slope while riding his pony through a lonely wilderness pass. Investigating a nearby isolated cabin, he overhears a woman warning an unseen accomplice about police arrests before a man screams and shots ring out, leaving a constable dead. Dexter sets off in pursuit through the dense thickets, eventually finding an exhausted, injured young woman with a boyish bob named Alison Rayne, who has survived a runaway horse and brutal travel. Though Superintendent Devreaux arrives and takes Alison into temporary custody, she soon vanishes into the snow, drawing Dexter into a relentless, instinctive chase across the winter wilderness toward Saddle Notch.

Along the way, Dexter faces immense dangers, including scaling a treacherous rock wall to rescue Alison from a freezing ledge and boldly invading a grizzly bear's winter den to shelter a stricken comrade from the freezing cold. He realizes the region is riddled with a clandestine underground network, operated by ruthless criminals like Stark and "Pink" Crill, which smuggles wealthy fugitives from the United States through mountain passes to the northern coast for a steep price. Dexter confronts hostile outlaws, survives treacherous river crossings, and wins a high-stakes gambling match that secures fifteen thousand dollars in ill-gotten gold, which he threatens to dump into the rapids to thwart the villainous Stark and protect the innocent.

As the web tightens, Dexter follows ancient trail blazes left by pioneers of the old Western Union telegraph project from 1865, using the long-buried marks to navigate a confusing maze of peaks. He discovers Alison's nervous brother, Archie, guarding a mountain hideout with a rifle, and ultimately dismantles the criminal ring's stronghold. With the outlaws cornered or subdued, the true reasons behind Alison's desperate flight come to light, revealing a tender romance born from shared hardship and survival in the elements. In the end, Colonel Devreaux finds Dexter and Alison together, gently informing the corporal that he has dropped from the rolls of the mounted police because a true service member cannot keep a wife. Released from duty to pursue civilian life, Dexter embraces his new future, holding Alison close as his voluntary prisoner for life.

How It Unfolds

The frozen discovery Corporal David Dexter encounters a suspicious drab object on a snowy mountain slope during his lonely patrol through the upper ranges. Investigating a remote cabin, he overhears a chilling conversation about betrayal and murder before gunshots suddenly end a man's life. He decides to leave his horse behind and track the mysterious culprit.

The wilderness pursuit Leaving his tired pony behind in a sheltered gully, Dexter tracks a fleeing woman through the dark and difficult thickets. He soon discovers an injured girl named Alison Rayne, who recovers consciousness and struggles with her confusing and frightening surroundings after a runaway horse accident.

The underground network Dexter and Superintendent Devreaux analyze the strange events and uncover a vast criminal scheme involving hidden cabins and dangerous outlaws like Pink Crill. This clandestine syndicate successfully smuggles wealthy fugitives from the United States across the border for massive sums of money.

The perilous rescue Dexter braves extreme natural hazards, scaling a sheer rock wall to pull a freezing Alison from a dangerous ledge. He later boldly forces his way into a hibernating grizzly bear's winter den to secure safe shelter and warmth for a stricken comrade.

The telegraph blazes Guided by ancient, pitch-healed trail marks left by Western Union surveyors in 1865, Dexter navigates a confusing maze of unmapped peaks. He eventually encounters Alison's hesitant brother, Archie, guarding a mountain hideout, and calmly disarms his youthful hostility with steady courage.

The final accounting Dexter triumphs over the criminal gang and threatens to dump fifteen thousand dollars of stolen gold into the turbulent rapids to ruin Stark's plans. Colonel Devreaux ultimately discharges Dexter from the police force, blessing his union with Alison as they embrace a new life together outside.

The People

Corporal David Dexter is a sharp, observant member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police whose restless scrutiny misses nothing in the wilderness. He wants to uphold the law, solve the string of murders, and bring justice to the remote mountains, facing hostility from hardened outlaws and treacherous terrain. By the end, he leaves the police force to devote his life to making Alison happy.

Alison Rayne is a quick-witted, agile young woman with a boyish bob who finds herself caught up in a terrifying wilderness flight after a runaway horse accident. She wants to escape danger and protect her loved ones, but stands in fear of the brutal criminal syndicate. She ultimately finds safety, love, and a permanent home in Dexter's arms.

Superintendent Devreaux is a seasoned, iron-willed leader of the mounted police who oversees his vast territory with a handful of trusted men. He wants to maintain order and track down the killers responsible for Constable Graves's death. He ends up recognizing Dexter's exceptional worth and gracefully discharging him from the service.

"Pink" Crill and Stark are ruthless, desperate outlaws and murderers who want to escape justice and profit from the illegal underground smuggling ring. Their greed and malice stand in the way of peace. They end up cornered, defeated, and thoroughly thwarted by Dexter's relentless pursuit.

In Its Own Voice

Lifeless tongues never talk!

While hiding outside an isolated cabin, Corporal Dexter hears a mysterious woman make this chilling assertion before shots ring out inside.

The place was a lonely, isolated spot, deep-shut among the remoter fastnesses of the northern Rockies: a haunt of big horn sheep and wandering grizzly bears.

The narrator describes the severe, untamed beauty of the wilderness where the initial mystery unfolds.

I'm going to make you pay to your last ounce of endurance, to the last breath you've got!

The vindictive outlaw Stark expresses his deep, venomous hatred toward Dexter while holding him captive.

What It's Really About

The book explores the enduring tension between civilization and the lawless frontier, examining how institutional duty clashes with personal redemption. Treynor investigates the corrupting influence of greed through the underground smuggling syndicate, contrasting the moral integrity of the mounted police with the desperation of fleeing criminals. Beneath the fast-paced adventure plot lies a deeper meditation on human resilience, trust, and how accidental encounters in desolate landscapes can completely alter a person's loyalties. The northern wilderness serves as both a physical trial and a moral crucible, testing whether individuals can retain their honor when stripped of conventional societal supports and forced to rely entirely on their own resourcefulness and inner strength.

Why Read It Today

Readers who love classic rugged adventure, atmospheric wilderness settings, and steadfast heroes will find plenty to enjoy in this novel. It feels like stepping into a brisk, frosty morning in the northern Rockies, where every shadow hides a potential danger and every trail reveals historical echoes like long-buried telegraph blazes. The prose is grounded and direct, offering an immersive experience of survival against the elements, from scaling icy cliffs to confronting grizzlies.

However, modern readers should approach with realistic expectations regarding its historical context. The book reflects early twentieth-century genre conventions, and some of the period attitudes, dramatic coincidences, and stylized dialogue can feel dated compared to contemporary thrillers. Furthermore, the dialect used by certain characters requires patience. Yet, despite these period limitations, the novel sustains a genuine sense of suspense and emotional sincerity. What stays with you long after finishing is the stark, beautiful depiction of the Canadian wilderness and the quiet devotion between Dexter and Alison as they find sanctuary together away from the rigid demands of official duty.