Star: The Story of an Indian Pony

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 guided me through years when the dim, rough trail was hard to follow.
The recording of historic facts and events in the romance of a story must be interesting and instructive to the readers; especially when the scenes occurred in a vast country, formerly occupied by an ancient and departed race and later by one now rapidly disappearing.
In vain might we search history for the record of a people who contended as valiantly against a superior race, overwhelming numbers, and who defended their country until finally driven toward the setting sun, a practically subjugated nation and race. The art of war among the white people is called strategy, or tactics; when practised by the Indians it is called treachery.
Their wealth consisted of their herds of horses—which the Western Indians obtained from the Mexicans after the Spanish had invaded Mexico—their lodges and the few appliances for camp-life. They worshipped the God of nature, and the Great Spirit was their omnipotent Jehovah. They believed that death was a long journey to the Happy Hunting Grounds. They were grateful for the abundance of the earth—the sunshine, air, water, and all the blessings of nature—and believed that all should share them alike. For one to wish to monopolize any part of the earth was to them the manifestation of a grasping disposition. Often the men of the most influence and greatest popularity in the tribe were the poorest, or those who gave most to others.
They believed that the Great Spirit had given them this beautiful country with its natural resources, advantages, and blessings for their home.