The Sign of the Beaver: Chapter 18 Summary & Analysis

Matt counts his notched sticks again and again. There are 10 of them, which means that September is almost over. The trees are turning red and gold, and the geese are headed south. There’s sometimes frost in the mornings. Matt wonders where his family is. To make Matt more anxious, Attean seems restless and doesn’t visit every day, and he seldom suggests he and Matt hunt or fish now. Matt is left often with his own thoughts and worries.

Matt carefully marks trees as he walks into the woods, and he keeps an eye out for Native American signs. He’s comfortable in beaver territory, so one day, when he finds a turtle sign, he knows it’s time to head home. However, he hears a dog yelping in a tone that reminds him of the trapped fox. Ignoring Attean’s earlier warnings to leave turtle traps alone, Matt follows the sound and discovers Attean’s dog stuck in an iron trap, its eyes glazed and its mouth frothing. Deciding he can’t leave Attean’s dog in a trap, Matt tries to free the dog, but it still doesn’t trust him. It snaps at Matt as Matt tries to open the trap, and Matt has to let go. The trap leaves a nasty gash on Matt’s arm, and the dog continues to growl. Matt knows he has to get Attean.

Matt races through the forest until he finds the river, which is slow enough to swim across. Dogs race at Matt as he approaches the wall, and a group of girls follow behind the dogs. Matt asks for Attean, and when one girl says neither Attean nor Saknis is here, Attean asks to speak to Attean’s grandmother. The girls look nervous, but one girl agrees and leads Matt into the settlement. Standing before Attean’s imposing grandmother, Matt politely explains that he needs help to free Attean’s dog. A girl, who introduces herself as Attean’s sister Marie, appears and translates for her grandmother. The old woman scoffs “Aremus piz wat”—good-for-nothing dog—when she understands, but Matt argues that the dog is hurt, and Attean loves it.

Attean’s grandmother relents, and Marie grabs a blanket and meat—she’ll go with Matt to free the dog. But before they go, Attean’s grandmother grabs Matt’s injured arm and insists on treating the wound so it doesn’t “poison” him. In her cabin, Matt looks around and is surprised that he finds her room so beautiful. She packs his wound with a poultice, binds it, and offers him some cornbread before sending him and Marie off.

Matt doesn’t speak to Marie until they’re deep in the woods on the other side of the river. He notes that Attean didn’t mention he had a sister, and Marie laughs that Attean doesn’t care about girls much. Matt says he has a sister named Sarah and then asks about Marie’s name, as it’s Christian, not Native. She explains her father baptized her, and Matt privately remembers that French Jesuits have been living with Native Americans in Maine for decades.

By now, Matt and Marie can hear the dog yelping. The dog immediately recognizes Marie and accepts the meat from her, but she has to cover him with the blanket before he lets Matt handle the trap. Finally, they free the dog, which runs off on three legs. Marie says Attean will fix the broken leg. She and Matt follow the dog back toward the village, but Attean meets them about halfway. Though Attean calls the dog stupid and asks why he should keep such a useless animal, Matt knows he’s joking. As the dog looks at Attean adoringly, Attean bends to inspect the broken paw.