Thrilling Adventures of the Prisoner of the Border

# The Prisoner of the Border

This 1860 serialized novel by P. Hamilton Myers, author of King of the Hurons, follows the fortunes of two brothers, Harry and Thomas Vrail, living on the Hudson River near the Catskills. After their father's sudden death leaves them nearly impoverished—reduced from wealth to barely a competence—the brothers must decide how to rebuild their fortunes. Harry, the elder, is diffident, well-educated but idle, doubting his own abilities despite considerable charm. Thomas is ambitious, vain, and impatient, studying law and eager to discover quick routes to wealth. Their elderly Dutch grandfather, Guert Rosevelt, lives with them, dependent on their support. The narrative appears to develop through encounters with various characters including Dutch settlers, a character named Barak described as an agitator, military conflicts (referenced chapters include "The Battle of Windmill Point" and "The Invasion"), and criminal elements, culminating in legal trials and romantic entanglements involving characters named Gertrude and Ruth across its lengthy 48-chapter structure.