Chapter Sixteen and Seventeen Summary

In chapter sixteen, Sacred Horse and the rest of his immediate family get sick from smallpox, which is what is killing all the people in the camp circle. Sacred Horse and two of Echo's children die from the disease. The remaining family members are waiting for word to come back from the camp circle when they are attacked. Echo's son Little Bear is out getting water and Waterlily goes to get him. Echo and her mother are attacked and Echo's baby and mother are killed. Echo is scalped and barely alive when Waterlily returns with Little Bear. Echo's husband is out hunting, and when he does not return, they fear he has been killed. Waterlily and Little Bear take care of Echo as best they can until help arrives. Sacred Horse's cousin finds them and brings them...