Part 1, Chapter 7 Summary

The winter George died was a long winter. Food was scarce. Tom becomes more proficient in basket weaving and other chores. Tom practices drawing his father's large bow and each day he gets stronger, until he finally is able to draw an arrow and shoot a deer.

Bessie tells Tom it is time for him to find a name for himself. Tom tells her that earlier, in the morning, he met a she-bear and they were not afraid of each other. Later, he shared part of his deer kill with the bear. Tom declares he will call himself Bear's Brother.

One day, the ax broke and Bessie realizes she has to go to Pagosa for a new ax. Together, they go to the old sawmill town, to the trader store owned by Jim Thatcher. Mr. Thatcher is a fair man and...