Stone Fox

Grandfather is a kindly man who raises Little Willy after the death of the boy’s mother. Prior to his depressive state, Grandfather was a prankster who was financially competent enough to save $50 for Willy’s college but couldn’t manage to pay his taxes. He is a passive figure and is ultimately unhelpful in regaining any control over their financial situation. By refusing to speak and interact with anyone other than Willy, Grandfather unwittingly forces the little boy to take on the responsibility the entire farm and his well-being. 

Grandfather, the actual parental figure for Willy, ultimately fails him, forcing Willy to sacrifice his beloved dog and his childhood innocence. Grandfather is a foil to Stone Fox’s character; both have lapsed into silence and muteness. While Grandfather falls into passivity, Stone Fox actively tries to help his people and purchase land for them. Stone Fox is, ultimately, also the one who breaks his vow of silence to help Willy.

Stone Fox is an indigenous man who owns five beautiful Samoyed dogs and has never lost a race. The novel describes him as wearing traditional garb:

He dressed in furs and leather, with moccasins that came all the way up to his knees. His skin was dark, his hair was dark, and he wore a dark-colored headband. His eyes sparkled in the sunlight, but the rest of his face was as hard as stone (25). 

Stone Fox is tall and is kind to his dogs. He has never spoken a word to a white man as a protest of the injustice his people, the Shoshone, suffered. Through his races, Stone Fox has been using the prize money to purchase land for his people. These two details draw comparison to his name; “Stone,” for stubbornness toward the white majority, and “Fox” for his clever way of regaining indigenous land. He strikes Willy for petting his dogs, exemplifying his mistrust for white people, even children. 

Stone Fox experiences discrimination from the townspeople who fear him. He removes himself from the narrative to a certain degree, unwilling to interact with the descendants of his people’s oppressors. He breaks his vow of silence for Willy after he sees how much the little boy cares for Searchlight. Stone Fox understands Willy’s bond with Searchlight; he shares a similar love for his own Samoyeds. He is a foil to Grandfather. While both men have refused to speak to the people around them and are victims of the government in drastically different ways, only Stone Fox is willing to end his vow of silence to help Willy.

Doc Smith is one of the first characters to appear in the book. The novel describes her as an elderly woman: “[She] had snow white hair and wore a long black dress. Her skin was tan, and her face was covered with wrinkles” (6). She examines Grandfather and tells Little Willy what is wrong. She suggests that Willy should come to live with her and let Mrs. Peacock take care of Grandfather. Doc Smith continues to try and convince Willy to come and live with her, but she ultimately encourages him to win the race. She is the only one who tries to go to Willy’s side when Searchlight dies during the race. Doc Smith is one of the only adults who attempts to help Willy throughout the entirety of the book. She recognizes that Willy is just a child and even offers to care for him. Even she, however, fails him.

Searchlight is a 10-year-old dog that was born on the same day as Little Willy. She has green eyes and black fur with “a white spot on her forehead the size of a silver dollar” (6). Searchlight loves Willy dearly and helps him pull the plow to harvest the potatoes when Grandfather gets ill and they are unable to afford a horse. Searchlight is extremely protective of Little Willy and protects him against Mr. Snyder. Searchlight also pulls Willy on a sled, eventually giving it her all in the race. She runs so fast and so hard that her heart gives out, and she passes away without suffering. Willy thanks her for all her help, praising her, and tells her to rest, before carrying her across the finish line. Searchlight’s devotion to, and sacrifice for, Little Willy contrasts sharply with the uselessness of the townspeople. Society and Grandfather fail Little Willy; it is only Searchlight and Stone Fox who assist him in any real, tangible way. 

Searchlight is undoubtedly the underdog in the sledding race; she is an old farm dog, but even her physical appearance seems to suggest that she is destined for great things. Searchlight is an all-black dog, with “a white spot on her forehead the size of a silver dollar” (6). This symbolism reflects the ray of hope and light that she brings Willy and Grandfather. Much like her name suggests, Searchlight helps Willy find his way through a dark time.

Mr. Snyder is the tax collector for the state of Wyoming. He is “short, with a small head and a thin, droopy mustache that reminded little Willy of the last time he’d drunk a glass of milk in a hurry” (16). Snyder initially points a gun at Searchlight when the dog tries to protect Little Willy from him. He is unkind and threatens to seize the farm if they fail to pay the $500 tax bill. Though Snyder is undoubtedly the primary antagonist of the novel, it is clear that Grandfather has brought this problem on himself.