Chapter 3 Summary

One day, Matt is relaxing on the rock in front of the cabin door. He has shot a rabbit, and it is cooking over the fire when a figure appears from out of the darkness of the woods. He realizes it is a man walking slowly towards him, who shouts "Howdy!" as he approaches. Matt lets his guard down since the man appears friendly, and the man asks if he can share in the dinner boiling in the cabin. Matt, feeling he must be polite, agrees.

As Matt prepares dinner, the stranger, named Ben, admires the gun hanging over the door. After they finish the stew and some bread and molasses, Ben states that he is avoiding the river town because there has been some trouble involving him there. He says he aims to hunt beaver and possibly live with the Indians up...