Episodes

  • Astoria Chapter 23

    Astoria Chapter 23
    Mar 20 2026
    In which a party journeying across the vast and tree-less prairies encounters the clean and gallant Cheyenne tribe, whose admirable horsemanship and shifting fortunes are described with a touch of respectful curiosity and historical reflection. The narrative pauses also to lament the crude renaming of noble landscapes and to muse upon the melancholy and mysterious fate of the native peoples of these great, wind-swept plains.
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    12 mins
  • Astoria Chapter 22

    Astoria Chapter 22
    Mar 20 2026
    In which the steadfast preparations and grim anticipations of a daring expedition into the vast and desolate wilderness of the far West are delicately portrayed, revealing a land of parched plains, rugged mountains, and restless tribes, where the spirit of adventure is tempered by sobering challenges and uneasy alliances. The narrative gently unfolds the forebodings of the party, the murmurings of desertion, and the introduction of a dubious interpreter, as they embark from the Arickara village into the unknown expanse with uncertain hopes and fragile resolve.
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    11 mins
  • Astoria Chapter 21

    Astoria Chapter 21
    Mar 19 2026
    In which an Indian horse fair unfolds with vibrant scenes of Arickara hospitality, the social labours and amusements of men and women, and the mounting tensions wrought by rumours of lurking Sioux enemies. The narrative culminates in a solemn yet triumphant return of a war party, blending festal rejoicing with poignant lamentations that reveal the tender-heartedness beneath the fierce exterior of the plains tribes.
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    23 mins
  • Astoria Chapter 20

    Astoria Chapter 20
    Mar 19 2026
    In which the riverbanks reveal a vast wilderness teeming with majestic herds of buffalo and fleet-footed antelopes, while the parties prepare with wary diplomacy to engage the Arickara village and its noble chiefs amid the ceremonials and trade negotiations of an ancient and honourable people. The uneasy rivalry between two trading companies is momentarily set aside as they share council smoke and discourse, cautiously laying foundations of friendship under watchful eyes and the open prairie sky.
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    20 mins
  • Astoria Chapter 18

    Astoria Chapter 18
    Mar 18 2026
    In which the party, navigating the diverse and sometimes perilous landscapes along the Missouri River, encounters stirring news from veteran hunters that prompts a significant change in their planned route, and soon after confronts a formidable gathering of Sioux warriors determined to challenge their passage. Yet, through diplomatic parley and the ceremonial pipe of peace, hostilities give way to a cautious truce, allowing the adventurers to proceed with a mixture of relief and lingering apprehension.
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    21 mins
  • Astoria Chapter 19

    Astoria Chapter 19
    Mar 18 2026
    In which the explorers encounter old Indian foes and tense negotiations precede a narrow escape from a hostile war party, followed by a sharing of camaraderie and festivity with allied tribes. Yet, the arrival of a rival trader rekindles old grudges and brings about a stormy confrontation, threatening to disrupt the fragile peace of the expedition.
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    17 mins
  • Astoria Chapter 17

    Astoria Chapter 17
    Mar 17 2026
    In which the expedition at the Omaha village receives troubling news of the menacing Sioux Tetons, known as fierce pirates of the Missouri, whose hostility threatens the traders’ progress, prompting unease, desertions, and a wary advance into perilous territory. Alongside the meeting of intrepid trappers and devoted naturalists, whose scientific pursuits offer a curious contrast to the surrounding dangers, Mr. Hunt navigates cautious dealings with rival traders and hostile tribes, pressing onward with a wary hope to leave behind the most hazardous parts of their journey.
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    19 mins
  • Astoria Chapter 16

    Astoria Chapter 16
    Mar 17 2026
    In which the arrival of spring in the western wilderness brings forth a lively renewal of nature's wonders and the travellers resume their voyage with vigilance against warlike intrusions. The narrative further introduces the Omaha tribe, their customs, and the fierce yet poignant story of their celebrated chief, Blackbird, whose memory endures upon a solitary hill overlooking the Missouri.
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    28 mins