Chapter 3 Summary

George Burton soon spreads the tale about the boy who talks with animals in North Corners. Located about halfway between Winnipeg and Hawk's Hill, North Corners has a small trading post, a church and a school surrounded by about two dozen houses. In the weeks following Burton's visit, a string of visitors trek out to Hawk's Hill to see the boy. At church, William and Esther MacDonald overhear people talking about Ben acting like an animal.

Ben happily spends most of his days wandering the farm. Yesterday he lay on his back in a marsh watching a bald eagle swoop gracefully overhead. Ben fervently wishes he could imitate the eagle's flight. He follows a small falcon hopping along the ground and watches it devour a mouse. When the hawk is startled it lets out a shrill cry that Ben imitates. "Won't hurt you...