Clothing

Jack transitions from the world of the Native Americans to the world of the Whites and back. Each time, he finds his identity with the help of a wardrobe change.

Guns

Firearms figure in Jack’s story in several ways. He uses them himself and becomes quite an expert at certain types of shooting. The guns are even more important because the white folks have them and the Native Americans have very few.

Liquor

Liquor precipitates the initial incident that ends with Jack being raised by the Cheyenne. Jack sinks into a liquor-fed depression when his wife and child are taken. Jack’s brother makes his living selling liquor of dubious origin (and dubious quality) to white settlers and Native Americans.

The Platte River

The Platte River separates the Northern and Southern Great Plains. It is a path for pioneers, and a guide for the transcontinental railroad...