Hatchet: Chapter 17 Summary & Analysis

Brian returns to his campsite and surveys the damage. He begins rebuilding by starting a new fire, which comforts him and chases away the mosquitos. Although he has to move slowly because of the pain in his ribs, Brian soon succeeds in rebuilding a version of the wall of his shelter and even builds himself a bed out of pine branches. Brian again feels lucky to be alive, and that he was not injured more severely.

Lying by his fire, Brian plans to find food the next day and contemplates the sight of the plane’s tail sticking out of the water. Beginning to fall asleep, he suddenly realizes that the survival pack must still be inside the plane and imagines all of the “wonderful things” that must be in the pack. He falls into a “healing sleep” imagining exploring the plane the next day.

In the morning, Brian’s ribs feel much better, and he is happy to discover that the tail of the plane did not sink during the night. Although he is eager to begin exploring, he remembers what he has learned previously and knows that he has to eat before doing anything else. Brian sharpens a new fish spear and successfully catches several fish. After cooking and eating them, Brian decides that though still hungry, he is now strong enough to attempt exploring the plane.

Brian decides that the best way to explore the plane will be to build a floating raft to use as a solid base while investigating. He struggles at first to keep the logs for the raft together but, remembering that he is no longer the easily frustrated person he once was, he sits and contemplates the problem quietly. Then, Brian realizes that choosing logs with limbs attached will allow him to weave the limbs together and hold the logs side by side. Finally, late in the afternoon Brian finishes the roughly made raft and finds that it floats well in the lake.

Realizing that he will need a way to attach the raft to the plane, Brian tears his old windbreaker into strips to make a rope, then sets off pushing the raft through the water. He discovers that moving the raft is much harder than he expected and, although he is eager to continue, he decides to rest for the night and continue his project in the morning.

Watching the sun set that evening, Brian imagines what his mother and father are doing at that moment. He pictures his mother watching television and cooking, and then forces himself to pay attention to the sunset instead. Looking at all the details of the light, trees, and water, Brian finds the beauty “almost unbelievable” and wonders if, someday, he will be at home watching television and imagining the sunset. As night falls, he feels a slight chill in the air.

The next morning, the air is even colder. Bringing the hatchet with him, Brian goes out to his raft and slowly swims it over to the tail of plane, a process that takes more than two hours. Brian is exhausted when he arrives and wishes that he had taken the time to eat breakfast. Examining the tail close up, he finds a place to tie the raft and searches for an opening that he can use to get inside the plane. He sees that all of the openings are underwater and is unsure how to proceed. He thinks of the pilot’s body still sitting in the cockpit, but feels unable to give up his chance at the survival pack.