The daring exploits of one of America's greatest Indian chiefs. A peaceful leader, he watched the covered wagons swarming through the hereditary hunting grounds of the Apaches, and realized that the traditional roving life of the Indians was ending. He explained to his people that Apache survival could be assured only by emulating the ways of the white man. The first break in peaceful relations came when Cochise was falsely accused by white soldiers of kidnapping and some of his relatives were taken as hostages and hanged. Overnight he was transformed into a bitter foe and began a carefully planned guerilla campaign to exterminate the white man. For twelve years, from an impenetrable stronghold in Arizona's Dragoon Mountains, with as few as three hundred warriors, he eluded thousands of United States soldiers while wiping out whole settlements.

Captain Thomas Jeffords, a mail carrier in Tucson, had won the respect and admiration of Cochise when he came, alone and unarmed, to ask for protection for the mail men. They became great friends and when Jeffords was ordered to scout for the Army, even though it meant possible warfare, he and Cochise became blood brothers, trusting and loving each other until Cochise's death. Through Jeffords, General Howard met Cochise and convinced him that General Grant, President of the United States, hoped to end all wars and would protect the Indians so they too could live in peace.

When the Apaches finally bowed to the white man's superiority, Cochise's final victory was one of the human spirit. He accepted peace because of his original belief in the brotherhood of white and red men.

From the dust jacket