Indian Horse: Chapter 25 Summary & Analysis

Saul and Fred Kelly arrive in Manitouwadge, a mining town. The community where Saul lives is informally known as “the Rez,” meaning that it’s an Indigenous Canadian reservation. The “town proper,” however, is populated by white people, some of whom bully the Indigenous Canadians. But when he first arrives in Manitouwadge in 1966, Saul doesn’t know any of this.

Fred introduces Saul to his family. He has three children: Garrett, Howard, and Virgil. Virgil is captain of the Moose. Soon after meeting Saul, he tells him that the other Moose players aren’t going to like him, at least not at first—he’s a “runt,” and he’s taking someone else’s spot on the team. Virgil advises Saul to make a point of proving himself and showing that he can fight his own battles.

Preparing for his first scrimmage with the Moose, Saul notices that his teammates are very serious and mature. Nobody talks to him. Fred Kelly pulls Saul aside and encourages him to take it easy during his first scrimmage.

The scrimmage begins, and Saul hangs back from the action, studying the way the other players move. Quickly, he learns how to “read the flow” of the game, and heads for the center of the action. The other players push and shove him, using their superior size and strength. Nobody passes him the puck, so Saul intercepts it and passes it to Virgil, who scores a goal. Virgil tells Saul, “Nice pass.”

As the scrimmage goes on, it becomes clear that Saul is one of the finest players on the team. The opposing players shove him with all their might, and Saul is forced to adjust his style of play—an experience that makes him a better player, he writes. By the end of the scrimmage, Saul has scored several goals and learned how to “whirl and dance” away from the other players. He’s thrilled to feel “the magic of the game.”

After practice, Fred Kelly smiles and tells Saul, “Welcome to the Moose.” Virgil hands him a soda, and he drinks it, proudly thinking, “I was a Moose.”