Part 1, Chapter 8 Summary

Tom, once again, encounters the she-bear. Tom sings a song of friendship to the bear and leaves her some of his fish catch. The bear is becoming his friend. Bessie tells him how their people were friends with everything in the mountains: cougars, bears, deer, jays and ravens.

Bessie is still worried about what Mr. Thatcher told her back in Pagosa. Bessie was afraid at the time and she did not hear him clearly. Bessie decides to go back to town in order to get the story again. This time, she brings two baskets and trades for calico material and a blue coat with brass buttons for Tom. Mr. Thatcher tells her, again, that the problem about George killing Frank No Deer is settled. Bessie tells him George was killed in an avalanche.

Blue Elk sees Bessie leaving the store and...