The Long Portage

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

25910

Title

The Long Portage

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in the desolate wilderness of British Columbia, this adventure tale follows Vernon Lisle and his companions as they navigate icy rivers and treacherous portages. Blending survival against the elements with a gripping mystery surrounding a fatal expedition, the story explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the harsh realities of the North.

Summary up to 500 words

In Harold Bindloss's *The Long Portage*, rugged Canadian bushman Vernon Lisle and English sportsman Nasmyth navigate the freezing wilderness of British Columbia, haunted by the mysterious death of two cousins, George and Clarence Gladwyne, from a year prior. The narrative unfolds through flashbacks and campfire confessions, revealing a tale of betrayal driven by greed. George, a naturalist, and his cousin Clarence, a struggling sportsman, embarked on an expedition with insufficient provisions. After wrecking their canoe and losing their supplies, George was left injured and starving. While the official story claimed Clarence abandoned his dying partner to seize an inheritance, Lisle and Nasmyth uncover evidence suggesting foul play. They discover a missing glove button and discrepancies in cached supplies, pointing to the treacherous guide and Clarence's complicity in George's demise. As Lisle and Nasmyth face starvation and dangerous rapids, they piece together the truth: Clarence likely found provisions but chose to leave George behind to secure his future, aided by a guide who took little food himself. The story climaxes with the discovery of Clarence's own death in the river, revealing the financial motives behind the initial betrayal. Ultimately, Lisle chooses compassion over vengeance, deciding that the innocent women left behind deserve peace rather than further suffering. The novel concludes with Lisle returning to England to settle the matter and finding love with Millicent, the sister of the deceased explorer, leaving the reader with a poignant reflection on duty, survival, and the enduring scars of the wild.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25910.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg25910.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-07-03 17:30 UTC

Categories

• Fiction
• Canada