Chapter 2 Summary

The opening line of chapter two is "So he should have hated and feared Lion." However, the narration does not explain who Lion is yet, or why Ike should have these sentiments. We learn that the boy is thirteen now, has killed a buck, and will kill a bear. We learn that Ike has become a very good woodsman and he is very familiar with bear prints. Once the narrator ambushed Old Ben, but the dog he was with was small and foolish and tried to attack the bear. The boy threw down his gun to grab the dog, and there is a moment when the bear stands over him before turning and leaving. Sam comments on the fact that Ike did not shoot and Ike points out that Sam did not either. Sam remarks that the dog was not big enough.

The...