Here is a story, in thinly disguised fictional form, of Plains Indians, especially a Cheyenne chief, Whirlwind--his manner of life, his beliefs, and particularly, his love of his son. The villain is a Mandan who is given refuge in the Cheyenne camp and then wreaks havoc with the lives of his hosts. He causes a battle with the Sioux, steals the chief's favorite wife, and slays the chief's young son. Whirlwind's revenge for the death of his beloved son provides a dramatic climax."
Happy Hunting Grounds "recaptures Cheyenne life on the plains. The battles, celebrations, and lifeways of the Indians--Sioux, Cheyennes, and Mandans--are accurately and graphically portrayed. This volume is illustrated with drawings and paintings by Frederick Weygold, reflecting his own long association with the Plains tribes.