The Wilderness Castaways

"The Wilderness Castaways" by Dillon Wallace is an early 20th-century adventure story about a privileged young man named Paul Densmore who travels to Hudson Bay for a summer of hunting and fishing with seasoned outdoorsmen George Remington and Henry Ainsworth. Paul's inexperience and carelessness quickly become apparent as he prepares for the trip, contrasting sharply with the competence of Captain Zachariah Bluntt and his crew of the ship "North Star," who are eager for Paul to just board the ship. The story emphasizes the growing tension between Paul and the more experienced crew members, due to the former's lack of preparation and the latter's desire to get underway. The author creates tension and hints at the dangerous situations awaiting the group in the remote, unforgiving wilderness.