On the Far Side of the Mountain

In this section, the novel’s excitement intensifies as Sam must prioritize finding Alice over trying to locate Frightful. When he finds her campsite empty and is faced with the tough decision of what to do next, the crisis shows the importance of self-reliance as Sam acts decisively on the strength of his own judgment, remaining calm and purposeful despite his worry about Alice. Similarly, the letter that Alice leaves provides the reader with more insight about her bold personality and independence. Coupled with the descriptions of Sam’s ability to track his sister easily even in the dark, the siblings’ resourceful behavior also reveals their intuitive communication as brother and sister and speaks well of their observational skills when engaging with the natural world.

The novel’s rising action nears its peak as Sam catches up with Bate and his partner in Beaver Corners. The setting—a secret room accessed through a cave—creates a suspenseful mood typical of classic adventure literature. Sam’s crucial role in the illegal bird dealers’ arrests is a further testament to his self-reliance and independence, for rather than pausing to consult the conservation officer, Sam takes quick action that ultimately leads to the men’s capture. Combined with his resourceful nature is his willingness to learn, as evidenced by his respectful conversation with the conservation officer, Sean Conklin, who teaches him about licensed falconers’ vital work in protecting wild falcon populations. Sam’s attentiveness to this conversation foreshadows his later interest in becoming a licensed falconer. As Chapter 14 comes to a close, readers are left with yet another cliffhanger when Sam remembers the goshawks at the Helderberg Escarpment and knows Alice will want to see the babies despite the dangers inherent in provoking the parent birds. Together with the earlier foreshadowing that Alice, with her boldness and love of animals, is bound to head right into trouble, George creates a swift urgency that propels the reader into the action of the next chapter.

The final chapter brings Alice’s first physical appearance in the novel and portrayers her as fearless almost to the point of recklessness. This climactic action scene starkly juxtaposes Sam and Alice; while Sam sees the birds’ threat and understands their power, Alice believes in her own power to ward the parent birds off with tree limbs. Despite their differences, both characters admire the family of goshawks, and when Sam learns that Alice undertook this journey to find a baby goshawk to replace his lost falcon, he appreciates the new selflessness that Alice has found by living in nature (even if she does not understand the serious problem with stealing a chick from its parents). To further underscore the theme of Respect for Nature, George showcases Sam’s vast botanical knowledge as he uses horse sorrel leaves to treat Alice’s cut and compares nature to a grocery store when preparing a wild-caught meal. Additionally, he believes that possession of a complete meal renders him rich, and his simple gratitude highlights his unique viewpoint that survival skills are a currency far more valuable than traditional human wealth.

Within the novel’s resolution, Sam finds both a lesson and a new direction in life, for although he has the chance to call Frightful back to him, he chooses to set her free despite the sadness of his personal loss, understanding that he must act in the best interests of both Frightful and all peregrine falcons. The act of releasing Frightful leads Sam to contemplate what may be his next chapter: getting his license as a falconer and working to protect and restore the natural world that he loves. This conclusion brings George’s focus on the human stewardship of the natural world full circle, leading readers to consider how they also might preserve the environment for the good of the world.