Somewhat OT: Anyone recognize this "survival" book?

[Woodtroll]

Hello, folks. Just "trolling" to see if anyone here recognizes this book- I cannot remember the title or author.

In about Jr. High (somewhere in the mid/late 70's for me) I read a book from the school library. It involved a man in the woods, running or hiding from someone (perhaps a fugitive from the law) that stumbled across someone else with a backwoods survivalist-type setup: a log or wood-frame home, well-kept garden plot, etc. The book was told from a first-person view, and described the interaction between these two men, both trying to escape detection from the other, until the narrator ends up shooting the backwoodsman with a .357, and of course immediately regrets it. Pretty vague memories to work from, I know, but maybe someone will recognize this?... This book was one of the things that formed my young mind towards a self-sufficient (not necessarily "survivalist") approach to life in general. Any ideas?

By the way, this library also had a first-edition copy of Jack O'Connor's "Horse and Buggy West", which I also thoroughly enjoyed. The scarcity and cost of this book now almost makes me wish I had pilfered that book way back when... . My conscience wouldn't have let me live with that then, or now, but I'd still like to find a copy some day.

Take care, folks, and thanks. Regan

 

[Anok]

I think the book you thinking of is titled "Deathwatch" by Robb White

 

[Fred A]

Deathwatch takes place in the desert, but it is definately a good read.

 

[Woodtroll]

Thanks, Anok. I thought that I had even remembered the title as being "Deathwatch". I picked up a copy of that book a few years back, and remembered reading it, but it is not the same one. Fred's right, though- it still is a good read. The mental image I have of the book in question puts it in Eastern hardwood forest, but I'm not sure if the setting is ever really established, or I was just basing my mental images on the only "woods" I knew at the time.

Funny what you remember, but one of the other things that stands out in my mind from this book is that the cabin owner had placed a very small item (possibly a hair?) in the door jamb to tell if the door had been opened. That's old hat for me now, but sure opened my eyes at the time. From then on I paid attention to almost every routine object in my daily life, to see if it had changed or if it had been moved. Made it easy to learn to operate in Cooper's "Condition Yellow" when I grew older.

Thanks, guys, still looking. Take care!