Escaping the wrath of General Shermans troops Joe Edge and his family are forced to seek protection and livelihood in the wilderness of Florida The Civil War is winding down when the Edges arrive in Sara Sota Numerous dangerous creatures roam the swamps panthers alligators rattlesnakes wild boar hogs Men are the most wicked of all Florida has become a haven for deserters from both the Union and the Confederate armies The state is sparsely populatedlawmen few and far between Murderers thieves child abusers and other assorted human debris take refuge in the palmetto scrubs and pine forests They are no match for Joe This legendary novel documents his many courageous acts He stalks a tiger that attacked his family He saves the cattle herd of the areas richest plantation owner He takes revenge against the man who killed a loved one To a coldblooded murderer he dispenses frontier justice Love blooms for Joe He must make a choice between faraway medical student precocious and stubborn Sparky Topp or the temptress schoolteacher Grisette Able In the most exciting action scene ever Joe takes on a gang of evil outlawsincluding the devil himself At conclusion the reader must decide who saves Anne Southern from being skinned alive Joe Edge Albert the alligator or a tiny gold cross and a whispered twoword prayer