It was a thirst for adventure that brought Daniel Greysolon, Sieur Du Lhut (known today as Daniel Duluth), from Old France to New France and led him to join the legendary coureurs de bois. At once he not only became the leader of the coureurs, but also established a reputation among friendly Indians for his understanding and justice in dealing with them. And because of this he won the recognition of Count Frontenac, Governor of New France, and was entrusted by him with an extremely difficult mission of peace.

Adventure upon adventure marked this assignment. Among other things, Daniel claimed for New France the site of the future city of Duluth, made portage at St. Anthony's Falls, the heart of Minneapolis today, and first heard of the Shining Mountains (the Rockies) and the Great Sea of the West (the Pacific). It became his compelling ambition to explore the West and possibly discover for France a new route to the Orient, but this wish was never fulfilled, for his unswerving loyalty to King and country took him back to help defend the eastern settlements against Iroquois attack and inevitable British invasion.

Daniel Duluth was one of the most important of the New World explorers, and his story is told with sympathy and suspense. American history and geography come alive, and the hero's struggles contain many a life-lesson for boys and girls of both the U.S. and Canada.

From the dust jacket