Chapters 2 and 3 Summary and Analysis

Chapters two and three discuss where Nerburn and the old man Dan begin to establish their working relationship to write Dan's book.

Chapter 2 Burnt Offerings describes events several months later when Nerburn drove back to the reservation with the papers, notes and clippings the old man sent home with him. The author reviewed and reorganized the papers into themes and a few chapters. Fatback barked his arrival and the old man waved Nerburn in where three of his friends played cards. One of them asked who he was, but the old man did not introduce him or offer a chair. Another asked if "Wasichu", meaning the "white man", played cards, but Nerburn had never learned, so they continued to play, smoke and ignore him. The old man told Nerburn to read one titled Black Kettle. One card-player asked Dan...