Deerfoot in The Mountains

In Short

Set during the era of the Lewis and Clark expedition, this frontier adventure follows the extraordinary Shawanoe youth Deerfoot alongside his companion brothers, George and Victor Shelton, as they attempt to return home across the continent. When Deerfoot’s prized stallion Whirlwind is stolen by a Nez Perce chief and traded away, the young warrior embarks on a solitary track across the northern plains to recover him. Reunited, the trio winters in a Blackfoot village, where Deerfoot spreads Christian teachings and tames a belligerent war chief before the group safely journeys back toward Ohio.

The Story

The journey eastward toward the Ohio home of George and Victor Shelton grinds to a sudden halt when the Nez Perce chief Amokeat absconds with Deerfoot’s extraordinary stallion, Whirlwind. Refusing to sit idly by while his prized steed remains lost, the resolute young Shawanoe hero instructs his companion, the Blackfoot warrior Mul-tal-la, to guide George and Victor to a Blackfoot village for winter shelter. Deerfoot then sets off alone and on foot, tracking the stolen horse into the northern territory. He discovers that Amokeat cowardice led him to surrender Whirlwind to a raiding band of Assiniboines to save his own skin. Undeterred by freezing weather and extreme hunger, Deerfoot relentlessly stalks the Assiniboine camp, deftly reclaims Whirlwind at a watering hole, and successfully hunts a buck to sustain himself.

Reclaiming his horse is only the first of Deerfoot's trials. Traversing the rugged paths of the Rocky Mountains, he suffers a painful ankle injury, only to be treated and healed by a compassionate, deformed native dwarf using a crushed berry poultice. After overcoming wilderness perils—including dangerous rattlesnakes and an imposing grizzly bear—Deerfoot reunites with George and Victor at the Blackfoot settlement to spend the winter months.

Life in the Blackfoot village brings fresh tension. While the boys engage in local games and hunting, the formidable war chief Taggarak views Deerfoot’s Christian faith with intense suspicion. The situation reaches a boiling point when Taggarak aggressively confronts the Shawanoe. Rather than drawing weapons, Deerfoot engages the chief in a test of pure physical strength, overpowering Taggarak and forcing him to the ground. Having established his physical dominance, Deerfoot addresses the tribe inside the Big Lodge, delivering a moving sermon on Christian peace, forgiveness, and salvation that deeply moves the villagers and earns Taggarak's sudden, booming support.

As spring arrives, the trio begins the arduous homeward trek. Along their journey through the mountains, they encounter members of the historical Lewis and Clark expedition, assisting the famous explorers with crucial wilderness intelligence. Disaster strikes when Victor suffers a severe fall, but the boys are rescued by Jack Halloway, a frontier trapper and former acquaintance whose life Deerfoot had previously transformed by convincing him to renounce alcohol. Halloway guides them safely out of the wilderness toward St. Louis. At the trapper's home, Deerfoot humbly recounts his harrowing exploits to Halloway's grateful mother before the companions complete their long, triumphant return to their families in Ohio.

How It Unfolds

The trail is lost Deerfoot discovers that his prized stallion, Whirlwind, has been taken by the Nez Perce chief Amokeat, forcing him to send George and Victor ahead to winter quarters while he pursues the thief alone on foot.

A stolen steed recovered After discovering that Amokeat surrendered the horse to an Assiniboine raiding party, Deerfoot tracks the raiders to a lakeside camp, cleverly reclaims Whirlwind, and hunts a buck to end his severe starvation.

Mercy in the mountains While navigating the treacherous Rocky Mountain passes, Deerfoot suffers a severe ankle injury but receives magical relief from a kindly native dwarf who applies a soothing, crushed-berry poultice.

Confrontation in the village Reunited with the Shelton brothers in the Blackfoot camp, Deerfoot faces open hostility from the war chief Taggarak, culminating in a fierce physical struggle where Deerfoot overpowers the chief without drawing a weapon.

Light in the Big Lodge Deerfoot delivers a powerful, peaceful sermon on the Christian faith to the assembled Blackfoot tribe, winning over his former enemy Taggarak and leaving a profound spiritual impression on the village.

A meeting with explorers Heading homeward in the spring, the travellers encounter the famous Lewis and Clark expedition, where Deerfoot provides key geographical guidance to the legendary captains.

A trapper repays a debt After Victor suffers a bad fall, the group is aided by Jack Halloway, a reformed trapper who credits Deerfoot with curing his alcoholism and safely escorts them toward civilization.

The People

• Deerfoot: A brilliant young Shawanoe warrior possessed of peerless woodcraft, immense physical strength, and a deep Christian faith. He wants to recover his stolen horse and guide his companions home safely, remaining unshakeably humble and forgiving even when challenged by dangerous enemies.
• George Shelton: A thoughtful young white settler returning home to Ohio. He seeks to survive the harsh wilderness winter while acting as a voice of caution and restraint to his more impulsive brother.
• Victor Shelton: George’s impulsive, spirited brother who craves action and excitement. He struggles with the boredom of winter quarters and the physical dangers of the trail, but gains maturity and resilience through his trials.
• Taggarak: The fierce, imposing war chief of the Blackfeet. Intimidated by Deerfoot's religious influence, he initially seeks to destroy the Shawanoe, but becomes a staunch defender after being physically humbled in a test of strength.
• Jack Halloway: A rugged frontier trapper who was previously persuaded by Deerfoot to abandon whiskey. He repays his debt of gratitude by rescuing the injured Victor and escorting the trio back to safety.

In Its Own Voice

"Deerfoot can travel better on foot than any other way."

Before embarking on his pursuit across unknown northern territories, the Shawanoe youth confidently declines a horse, trusting entirely in his unmatched personal endurance.

"He turned his gaze to the rear, he saw nothing of men or horses."

After confronting the cowardly chief Amokeat, Deerfoot walks away into the wilderness with utter disdain for his enemies, completely unmindful of potential retaliation.

"The Great Spirit, whom we call God or our Heavenly Father, has made the path so straight and so free from briars that the smallest child can walk therein without harm."

Addressing the crowded Blackfoot lodge, Deerfoot explains his spiritual beliefs in simple, universal terms of love, mercy, and peace.

What It's Really About

Beneath its swift adventure plotting, the novel explores the power of moral integrity and non-violent strength over brute force and vengeance. Deerfoot consistently chooses mercy, diplomacy, and spiritual conviction when dealing with hostile foes, proving that true heroism lies in self-control and faith rather than savage retaliation. The story contrasts the noble restraint of its Christianized Native protagonist with the initial suspicion of both native tribes and white frontiersmen, suggesting that true brotherhood transcends racial boundaries. It celebrates the harmony between deep wilderness mastery and compassionate moral principles, presenting an idealized view of the American frontier where physical prowess serves a higher spiritual purpose.

Why Read It Today

This novel offers modern readers an engaging window into early twentieth-century juvenile wilderness fiction, capturing the romanticized spirit of American expansionism and frontier lore. Readers who enjoy classic tales of survival, tracking, and wilderness living will appreciate Ellis's detailed focus on woodcraft, animal companionship, and the geography of the Pacific Northwest.

The prose flows with an earnest, straightforward cadence that makes the high-stakes tracking scenes and physical physical challenges genuinely suspenseful. However, readers should be prepared for period-typical conventions, including stylized native dialogue, straightforward moralizing, and a clean, idealized depiction of frontier violence that reflects the era's literature for young audiences. What endures is the compelling, legendary character of Deerfoot himself—a hero whose grace, towering physical capability, and unwavering ethical compass give the narrative a timeless, uplifting charm.

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