- Foreshadowing alert: "On the day of their greatest adventure, Attean had come without his dog. So there was no warning" (15.1). It sounds like something spectacular is about to happen…
- Matt feels great after his first-ever bow and arrow kill, and as he and Attean head for the beaver dam, Matt swings the rabbit he caught by its ears at his side.
- Suddenly Attean stops and gives Matt a signal for silence.
- They both hear rustling in the leaves, and then a baby bear's head pokes out—he's so cuddly and cute, Matt almost laughs.
- Attean hisses at Matt.
- A massive bear moves the cub out of the way and glares at the boys. The situation is officially not so funny anymore, and the bear rises on her hind legs and curls her claws.
- Without thinking, Matt hurls the rabbit at her head. She swats it away, but it gives just enough time for Attean to make use of his amazing bow skills—he hits her right between the eyes, and then again in the shoulder.
- The bear sinks to the ground, and Attean shoves his knife in deep. Matt does the same, but his stabbing is too late—the bear is already dying.
- Matt stares at the lifeless ferocity of the bear, and all he can do is smile to hide his shaking legs.
- Attean doesn't smile, though. He stands over the bear and starts speaking slowly, for a long time; when he finishes, Matt asks what he was saying.
- Attean explains that apologized to the bear for killing her; he did not want to kill a mother bear, and he asked her to forgive him.
- Then Attean compliments Matt by telling him, "You move quick […] like Indian" (15.17), which is something Matt's been yearning for pretty much since the day he met Attean.
- Next Attean gets down to brass tacks: he's got to go tell his village about the bear so the squaws can come to take the meat.
- He reminds Matt about his bloody, squashed rabbit, which Matt reluctantly takes; he knows the Indians don't waste perfectly good food.
- Matt is a little miffed that Attean gets all the glory for the kill, even though he knows he totally deserves it, but he focuses on the compliment Attean gave him instead, and that makes him feel better. Mostly.