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BUFFALO GRASS by C. L. Murphy

BUFFALO GRASS

By

Pub Date: June 27th, 1966
Publisher: Dial

This is strictly fodder for the wild west devotees. When the stage coach carrying wealthy, fifteen year old Freddy Crowell is attacked by Comanches, he is just barely rescued by Trace Brackett, the scout for a group of buffalo hunters. It is necessary, however, for him to work for the hunters. Although a pampered child, he quickly catches on to his chores, and Trace tutors him in the arts of riding, shooting, and scouting. The conflict between the men and Dutcher, who is head of the expedition and who is determined to get a full load of buffalo skins even though putting the whole group in grave danger of Indian attack, is overworked, especially since Dutcher is a totally unsympathetic personality. The other characters are just as superficial, even Freddy with his stated but unconvincing development of responsibility. The moment when Trace gives back a captured Comanche child to her chieftain father, and is rewarded with the return of his own child, seems more ridiculous than touching. Descriptions of the process of buffalo hunting and some action scenes may be of moderate interest to boys.