Part 1, Chapter 12 Summary

Blue Elk tracks Tom to his lodge and convinces Tom to let him stay, citing hospitality. Blue Elk is reminded of the 'old ways' and of his grandmother, when looking around the lodge at the way Tom is living. The taste of the meat reminds him of the meat he ate with his grandmother. Blue Elk begins to talk to Tom about the 'old ways'.

Blue Elk tries to tell Tom the old ways are gone. Blue Elk reminds Tom that Tom's father and mother are gone and he tells Tom the lie, that he, Blue Elk, was the one to settle the trouble between his father and the sheriff.

Tom challenges Blue Elk to sing the mourning song for his parents, but Blue Elk does not know the words. Tom tells him his mother died two years before this and...