Cattle-Ranch to College: The True Tales of a Boy's Adventures in the Far West

"Cattle-Ranch to College: The True Tales of a Boy's Adventures in the Far West" by Russell Doubleday is a story set in the late 1800s, about the life of a boy in the American West, filled with true tales of ventures, tests, and the manners of a culture connected intimately with cattle ranching and their encounters with Native American tribes. At the start, in a frontier town called Bismarck, rancher Harry Hodson cautions the townsfolk about an approaching attack from a group of unfriendly Native Americans. As the men ready themselves for what may come, the story shows the characteristics of frontier living, the population's sense of concern, and the ranchers’ discussions on facing the dangers caused by native tribes. Sheriff Mackenzie becomes a leader during this time of danger, and we see his interactions with children such as John and Ben Worth, who are clever and experienced with the severe truths of life on the frontier. Mixing suspense with olden times, the beginning prepares the reader for a gripping story of valor and daring in a fast changing world.