This is the story of Jasper Derry, a Canadian trapper who is traveling to Fort Erie to marry his fiancé and begin a family. It includes John Heywood's adventure with a ferocious grizzly bear and the evil machinations of Darkeye, an Indian chief. A classic for young readers, ages about 12-16 or so, and great for adults as an action/adventure tale set in the wilderness in the 1800's. (Goodreads)
Robert Michael Ballantyne (24 April 1825 – 8 February 1894) was a Scottish author of juvenile fiction who wrote more than 100 books. He was also an accomplished artist, and exhibited some of his water-colours at the Royal Scottish Academy. (Wikipedia)