Squanto, a Pokanoket Indian boy, liked to stand on a certain rock on the hillside and look out at the bay. He had no idea he was standing on a hill where the Pilgrims' town of Plymouth would soon be founded. He thought that Patuxet Village where he lived would always be there.

Like other Indian boys, Squanto learned to do his share of providing food for the village. He learned to secure food by hunting, trapping, and fishing. He learned to gather food from plants that grew wild in the forest. He learned to grow corn and other plants for food. The Indians of Patuxet Village ate many kinds of food.

When Squanto was twelve years of age, someone gave him a bow and arrow. He liked to hunt with other braves of the tribe, but soon discovered that he would rather fish than hunt. In time, he came to make fishing his chief means of livelihood.

By and by Squanto began to trade with English explorers who came to the area. He traded fur for such objects as kettles, hatchets, and jewelry. Finally, an unscrupulous explorer kidnapped him and took him to Spain, where he was kept as a slave.

Years later Squanto escaped from Spain and went to England. There he lived for a while, and learned to speak English. Finally, he managed to return to America.

Squanto was living in New England when the Pilgrims landed from the "Mayflower" to make their homes in America. He witnessed their hardships during their first winter when about half of them died of exposure, sickness, and semi-starvation. He understood their problems in attempting to make a living here in the wilderness.

Fortunately, Squanto liked the Pilgrims and wanted to help them. He showed them how to hunt, fish, and trap for food. He showed them how to look for edible plants in the forest. He taught them how to grow corn and other crops successfully.

Besides being friendly himself with the Pilgrims, Squanto influenced other Indians to be friendly. One of the other Indians was Massasoit, a powerful Indian chief, who lived in New England.

This volume by Augusta Stevenson tells a fascinating story about settlers and Indians. It is fast-moving, relating one thrilling incident after another. Young readers will thoroughly enjoy this latest story from the pen of Augusta Stevenson. 

From the dust jacket