Daniel is probably owed a long hunting trip after his besetting of home problems this hour. While teaching Israel how to shoot, he spooks the horses of trader Seth Jennings (Edward Binns) and ends up owing him for destroyed inventory. At home he finds the arrival of his Indian friend Grey Eagle (Eddie Little Sky) and his wife Rising Star (Adrienne Hayes). Having lost a daughter, Rising Star is carrying a doll in mourning. Complications ensue when Jennings steals her doll to ransom for furs.
After the previous run of action-adventure we need to stick close to the fort to stay within budget as Season 1 draws to a close, and the hour is a fairly predictable one. Granite-jawed character actor Binns had a notable run over four decades, most recognizably as Ike's assistant General Walter Bedell Smith in "Patton." His aura of integrity probably miscasts him as a heavy, however. And lightning strikes in 1965 - a Native American actor is cast in a Native American role! Oglala Lakota Little Sky - a Navy crewman, oil field worker, and rodeo rider - came to Western genre more than prepared, and brings a previously unknown gravitas to the series; unfortunate as well that DB did not take him on as a series semi-regular.
The script might have been better suited as a chase episode; bringing it to the fort soon weighs it down with Boonesborough baggage, including Israel's pet goose Hannibal (who gets points and extra grain for acting effort) and a musical number by Cincinatus. Rebecca's buttons are pushed by the gunshot-induced wreck of Jennings' wagon (stock footage, but an over-the-cliff spectacular!) and out comes the "too young for a gun" lecture. Probably less than applicable in a setting where young men had to grow up fast or risk not doing so at all.
No recollection of mid-South tribes using dolls for mourning, and the practice seems a late scripting add-on. Plus, we never are told just what tribal affiliation Little Sky's group holds.
Another bottle episode, held back by a substantial portion of the action being obscured by nighttime black and white photography. But Little Sky's presence is a harbinger of better Hollywood casting practices, most recently epitomized by Lily Gladstone's turn in "Killers of the Flower Moon."