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STAR
The Story of an Indian Pony
BY FORRESTINE C. HOOKER
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY
Lieut.-General NELSON A. MILES, U.S.A.
JACKET PAINTING BY
CHARLES LIVINGSTON BULL
The Sun Dial Press, Inc.
GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK
COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY DOUBLEDAY, PAGE
& COMPANY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES AT THE
COUNTRY LIFE PRESS, GARDEN CITY, N. Y.
TO
YOU, THE ONE
Like a ray of light in a stormy sky your love has encouraged and guidedme through years when the dim, rough trail was hard to follow.
Son of Running Deer, daughter of the swiftest racer ofall the Comanche ponies
FOREWORD
The recording of historic facts and events in the romance of a storymust be interesting and instructive to the readers; especially when thescenes occurred in a vast country, formerly occupied by an ancient anddeparted race and later by one now rapidly disappearing.
In vain might we search history for the record of a people who contendedas valiantly against a superior race, overwhelming numbers, and whodefended their country until finally driven toward the setting sun, apractically subjugated nation and race. The art of war among the whitepeople is called strategy, or tactics; when practised by the Indians itis called treachery.
Their wealth consisted of their herds of horses—which the WesternIndians obtained from the Mexicans after the Spanish had invadedMexico—their lodges and the few appliances for camp-life. Theyworshipped the God of nature, and the Great Spirit was their omnipotentJehovah. They believed that death was a long journey to the HappyHunting Grounds. They were grateful for the abundance of the earth—thesunshine, air, water, and all the blessings of nature—and believed thatall should share them alike. For one to wish to monopolize any part ofthe earth was to them the manifestation of a grasping disposition. Oftenthe men of the most influence and greatest popularity in the tribe werethe poorest, or those who gave most to others.
They believed that the Great Spirit had given them this beautifulcountry with its natural resources, advantages, and blessings for theirhome.
One great cause of disaffection among the Indians was the destruction oftheir vast herds of buffalo, which seemed