The Sign of the Beaver: Chapter 15 Summary & Analysis

Attean doesn’t bring his dog on the day of his and Matt’s “greatest adventure.” Matt feels proud of himself when he manages to shoot a rabbit with his bow while Attean watches. He follows Attean through the forest to the beaver dam, swinging his rabbit by the ears. Suddenly, Attean stops and shushes Matt—and ahead of them, a bear cub sticks its head out of the bushes. Moments later, the bear’s mother pulls the cub out of sight and, looking angry and menacing, rises onto her hind legs. Matt throws the rabbit at the bear, hitting her on the nose, which gives Attean time to shoot an arrow into the bear’s forehead and then her shoulder. Attean then leaps onto the bear and stabs her with a knife. Moments after, the bear dies.

Matt is horrified. His knees are shaking and to try to hide how afraid he was, he smiles at Attean. Attean, though, isn’t smiling. He stands over the bear, speaking very seriously. When he’s finished, he tells Matt he told the bear that he didn’t want to kill her, and he asked for her forgiveness. Matt is adamant that they had to kill her, since she would’ve killed them. Attean smiles and says Matt moved fast—like a Native. Matt blushes as Attean explains that the women will come and butcher the bear. He then reminds Matt to grab his rabbit. Matt doesn’t want the bloody and mangled rabbit now, but he knows Attean expects him to use it. He also resents that Attean seems to have no intention of sharing the meat. That Attean complimented Matt’s reaction time will have to be enough.