Arrow Keeper

Cheyenne

by Judd Cole

When Matthew Hanchon, a Cheyenne Indian raised among Wyoming pioneers who has only known fear and distrust, discovers that his adoptive parents are in danger because of him, he flees into the wilderness where he must call upon his warrior's courage, strength, and skill to survive. Original.

244 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1992

About the author

Also writes as John Edward Ames

Reviews

[David B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The orphaned son of a Cheyenne chief is raised by white parents, but he flees from a white world that will not fully accept him to his father’s people, who are also unwilling to take him in until their revered medicine man vouches for him on the basis of a vision.

This book is a terrific read. I am in no position to judge its accuracy, but it is full of interesting details about Indian life and customs that certainly have the ring of authenticity. I suspect that John Edward Ames, an acclaimed Western author writing under the house name of Judd Cole, knows whereof he speaks. My dilemma is that I can’t find ebook reprints of the series, so I am limited to what I can find in used book stores. I have #3, but this seems like a series that would benefit from reading it in order. This novel is an effective origin story that establishes Matthew “Touch the Sky” Hanchon’s place in Cheyenne society. He has allies and enemies, prophecy foretells a momentous destiny for him, and all of it occurs during a time when settlers and the American army are encroaching ever more on the territory of the Plains Indians and there is conflict among the tribes themselves. The situation is rife with dramatic possibilities that no doubt build upon each other over the course of 23 books. This inaugural adventure culminates in a thrilling climax that suffers a bit because a key element of it seems profoundly silly.

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[John Reis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matthew Hanchon is the sole survivor of a battle between Cheyenne warriors led by Running Antelope riding under a flag of truce and the US Army. It is 1840. He is only an infant. He is taken in by John Hanchon and his wife who name him and raise him.

Once he has reached his teenage years, and has shown interest in Kristen, he is routinely slighted, insulted, and poked for being an Indian. He decides that it might be better to live amongst the Cheyenne. He rides north away from Bighorn Falls.

He is not welcomed by his blood brethren. He is treated as a spy, tortured and almost burned alive before the ordeal is stopped by the tribe’s returning medicine man, Arrow Keeper.

He is allowed to live and train as a warrior. He makes dozens of mistakes, some of them quite embarrassing ones. He is brutally treated and at times starved. He is given insulting nicknames. He does have one friend though. He is given the name “Touch the Sky” by Arrow Keeper.

The tribe is attacked by Pawnee and loses many warriors. The remnants of the tribe make a new camp, but the Pawnee would like to finish off the tribe and is hunting for them. Several weeks later the Pawnee find the Cheyenne tribe again.

Matthew comes up with a plan and runs off in the night to put it into play.

I know nothing of the practices of the Cheyenne or Pawnee. I know nothing of this author, but this is a good story.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in a great series told from the Cheyenne point of view during the Indian wars of the old west. The whole series is very consistently readable. The Judd Cole name is a house name but the same author wrote all of these.

[Jimmy Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book. Matthew town between 2 worlds. the white and red. leaving his adopted white parents to fins his own way of the Cheyenne.

great store of his survival and betrayal of g is fellow red man.