Part 4, Chapter 48 Summary

Tom waits all day and into the night for the bear to return. Looking into the night sky, he recalls the stars he once knew. Weary and half-asleep, Tom sees something in the moonlight. It is a woman. Tom cannot see her features, but he knows it is the All-Mother from back in the very beginning. The woman is chanting and he joins in with her. Tom knows he is chanting the bear song and closes his eyes and continues. When he opens his eyes, she is gone and then he sees the bear.

Tom continues humming the song and the bear shifts its attention to the rocks where Tom is sitting. At the meaningful part of the song, Tom starts singing again, while he positions his rifle. The bear waits and then turns back to its kill and begins to...