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Audiobook editionPaperback · 6 × 9 in · printing soonHardcover · 6 × 9 in · printing soonAbout this book
In rough frontier country, speed and skill matter—but so does the courage to stand by a friend.
Deerfoot in the Mountains by Edward Sylvester Ellis follows a young Native American hunter and runner through the American frontier. Deerfoot brings tracking skill, speed and calm judgment to his role as a trusted guide and friend to his white companions. Around them, forests, rivers and mountains offer beauty and danger.
Long journeys on foot bring hardship, while weather and wildlife make the country a place that demands care. Loyalty matters as much as outdoor skill: danger puts the choice between self-preservation and friendship into sharp focus. Ellis tells this adventure in a direct style, with short chapters, quick action and scenes that are easy to picture.
What you’ll discover
- A steady frontier guide Meet Deerfoot, whose speed, tracking skill and calm judgment make him a trusted companion.
- Beautiful and dangerous country Enter forests, rivers and mountains where the landscape brings both wonder and hardship.
- Friendship under pressure Explore the choice between looking after yourself and standing by a friend.
- Survival on foot Follow long journeys where weather and wildlife make outdoor skill matter.
- Adventure that moves quickly Enjoy short chapters and direct storytelling that keep the action close.
Who will love it
You will enjoy this book if you like frontier adventure, loyal friendships, and a hero who wins with skill and mercy. It suits readers fond of horse stories.
What’s inside
The key ideas, in the 15-minute summary
- Strength needs a guiding purpose
- Comfort does not excuse stealing
- Loyalty sends Deerfoot onto the trail
- Finding Whirlwind calls for restraint
- Mercy matters when danger turns
- A stranger offers needed kindness
- Welcome gives way to a warning
- Victory cannot settle every conflict
- Gentleness is a deliberate choice
Who’s who
- DeerfootA young Shawanoe warrior and devout Christian, famed for speed and woodcraft, who wants to recover his stolen stallion and bring his friends safely home.
- WhirlwindDeerfoot's proud black stallion, who answers to his master alone and is determined to stay with him.
- George SheltonThe steadier of the twin brothers from Woodvale, Ohio, who longs to return home and follows Deerfoot's lead.
- Victor SheltonThe quick-tempered, joking twin, who loves a prank and a tall tale and finds trouble as easily as friends.
- Mul-tal-laA Blackfoot warrior who guides the party and wants to bring his friends safely to his people.
- TaggarakThe scarred war chief of the Blackfeet, who rules by strength and distrusts the new faith the Shawanoe brings.
- Jack HallowayA huge, cheerful trapper with a grizzled beard, who owes Deerfoot a debt he is eager to repay.
- AmokeatThe Nez Perce chief who borrows Whirlwind without asking and bargains him away to save his own skin.
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Deerfoot in the Mountains
by Edward Sylvester Ellis · 1905
Deerfoot sets out on foot to recover a stolen black stallion, then crosses the Rockies to rejoin his friends.
Medium level2–5 hours to read20 languages
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“It’s better to freeze than to steal wood.”
In short
What would you do if your closest friend were a black stallion, and he vanished while you were away? Deerfoot walks into the mountains alone, in the cold edge of winter, and does not stop until he has found him.
Deerfoot in the Mountains at a glance
- Reading time
- About 4 h 20 min3 h 25 min fast, 5 h 10 min slow
- Length
- 61,600 words
- Library level
- Medium longer sentences, everyday words
- First published
- 1905by Edward Sylvester Ellis
Reading time at 238 words a minute (fast 300, slow 200). How long the classics take to read · Updated
From the 15-minute summary · Key idea 1
Principle comes before comfort
The story opens on the Pacific slope near the Columbia River. Deerfoot, Mul-tal-la, and the twin brothers George and Victor have finished the journey from the Ohio. Deerfoot speaks quietly of the day when settlers will spread like leaves across the land, and he hopes the red and white peoples will live in peace.
The party turns upstream. One cold night, a pile of lumber lies beside their camp, and the boys long to burn some of it. Deerfoot reminds them that the wood belongs to someone else, so taking it would be a sin. It is better to freeze than to steal.
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Details
- First published
- 1905
- Language
- English
- Reading time
- 5 h 5 min
- Level
- Medium level
Cite this edition
Ellis, Edward Sylvester. Deerfoot in the Mountains. Library of Alexandria, 2026, libraryofalexandria.com/products/deerfoot-in-the-mountains.
Ellis, E. S. (2026). Deerfoot in the mountains. Library of Alexandria. https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/deerfoot-in-the-mountains (Original work published 1905)
Ellis, Edward Sylvester. Deerfoot in the Mountains. Library of Alexandria, 2026. https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/deerfoot-in-the-mountains.
@book{ellis2026deerfoot,
author = {Ellis, Edward Sylvester},
title = {Deerfoot in the Mountains},
publisher = {Library of Alexandria},
year = {2026},
url = {https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/deerfoot-in-the-mountains},
note = {First published 1905}
}
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What is Deerfoot in the Mountains about?
It follows Deerfoot the Shawanoe as he recovers his stolen stallion Whirlwind, crosses the Rockies, and spends a winter among the Blackfeet with his friends George and Victor Shelton. Along the way he meets Lewis and Clark.
Who is Deerfoot the Shawanoe?
Deerfoot is a young Shawanoe warrior from Ohio who is known for speed, strength, and woodcraft. He is also a sincere Christian and wins his enemies through mercy, courage, and a gentle heart.
Is Deerfoot in the Mountains a true story?
No, Deerfoot and his friends are fictional. The book is set in 1804 and 1805 and weaves in real history, including the Lewis and Clark expedition, to give the adventure a lifelike setting.
The author
Edward Sylvester Ellis
1840–1916 · American novelist and historical writer
Edward Sylvester Ellis (1840–1916) was an American novelist and nonfiction writer. He was born in Geneva, Ohio, and worked as a teacher in New Jersey. He wrote adventure stories for young readers, including the Deerfoot books, as well as histories and biographies. He died in Maine.
“It’s better to freeze than to steal wood.”
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