The Savage

A young Jim Aherne Jr. survives a Crow raid on a wagon train. He is rescued by the Sioux and raised by Chief Yellow Eagle, who renames him War Bonnet. He grows up feeling divided between the Sioux world and his white heritage.

As he comes of age, his loyalty to his Sioux family clashes with memories of his birth culture. The tension shapes his choices and sense of belonging. The conflict lingers as he navigates two worlds.

Gold is discovered in the Black Hills, sharpening pressures on the treaty and demanding a response from Washington. The Sioux insist sovereignty must be respected in light of this discovery. The political stakes rise as both sides brace for conflict.

To determine whether the U.S. government will honor the treaty, War Bonnet travels to Fort Duane as a scout. He adopts a cover identity, claiming to be a local trapper delivering ponies. The mission sets the stage for later confrontations.

During a Crow assault, War Bonnet helps rescue a group of U.S. cavalry led by Lt. Hathersall. His quick actions save soldiers and complicate his dual loyalties. He also reveals his alias, Jim Aherne, to the arriving troops.

At the fort, Col. Ellis assigns care to War Bonnet while Hathersall’s sister Tally grows fond of him. Capt. Vaughant covets Tally and hates Jim, sparking a tense confrontation that erupts into a brief brawl. Relationships become a powder keg for future events.

Days later, War Bonnet joins a picnic with the Hathersalls and notices smoke signals in the distance. He investigates without revealing their meaning, and later discovers dead soldiers in the hills. He learns that his sister Luta has been taken captive.

Leading a party of Sioux to the Crow camp, War Bonnet rescues Luta from captivity. Running Dog, a Sioux who hates Jim, deserts him; Yellow Dog later kills Running Dog when he attempts to kill War Bonnet.

On the way back, they encounter a party led by Vaughant who has learned of the carnage. The exchange escalates into a clash, and Luta is killed by the whites. The losses harden War Bonnet's resolve.

Seeing that whites may ignore the treaty, War Bonnet resolves to return and lead Fort Duane soldiers into an ambush. He believes this act is necessary to defend his people and remind the outsiders of consequences.

As a scout, War Bonnet guides Vaughant’s men to a Crow camp rather than a Sioux. They unleash artillery and explosives, scattering the Crow into the hills. After the clash, Vaughant is wounded and killed by Martin.

A wagon train of women and children joins the column for protection. War Bonnet helps secure their safety and leads them away from the ambush route, though he is wounded by an arrow during the escape.

Back at the fort, a doctor tends War Bonnet's wound while Tally and Martin question how he knew about the ambush. That night, Jim sneaks out to urge Yellow Eagle to abandon the war and seek peace.

War Bonnet’s mother Pehangi argues in favor of peace, convincing Yellow Eagle to reconsider his stance. War Bonnet is brought back to the fort where Martin, other soldiers, and Tally greet him, and he hints that they are making elbow room for others, signaling that war has been averted.