Chapters 1 through 4 Summary

Jim Keath is camped in the mountains above the Powder River as the story opens. Another mountain man named Tom Rivers is camped with him. Tom has made it clear that he plans to break camp that day and head for California. Jim doesn't plan to go with Tom but wishes he could convince the older man to stay. Jim knows that he'll be lonely without Tom. Jim thinks about all this as he works at setting traps. He has only one beaver in his traps and he thinks about the fact that the big companies have trapped out most of the beaver from the area.

As Jim is walking through the woods, he runs his fingers through his hair and feels four scars that run from his hairline down to his eyebrow. He suddenly remembers his encounter with a grizzly...