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During the summer of 1769, Matt Hallowell and his father buy property
in an up and coming town-site in Maine. Matt is left alone to guard the
house when his father returns to Quincy Massachusetts to get Matt's
pregnant mother and sister. While waiting months for his family to return
to their cabin, 12 year old Matt endures many miss fortunes during his
first two months alone. His
fathers gun is stolen by a questionable red bearded guest, a bear breaks
in and leaves him with little food supplies, and the dark shadows seem to
be Indians watching Matt everywhere he goes. Matt is saved by two
Penobscot Indians. Saknis and his grandson, Attean (14 years old), when he
is almost drowned trying to elude a swarm of bees. To thank Saknis and
Attean for saving his life Matt gives them his “only possession”, a
book. Saknis asks Matt to
teach Attean to read the white man’s signs, and in making a “treaty”
Attean would provide Matt with food. During the months to come Attean ends
up teaching Matt how to survive without guns, metal fish hooks and steal
traps and how to find his way through the forest without getting lost.
Matt shares his Robinson Crusoe book and bible stories with Attean.
The boys become companions (not necessarily friends) and hunt and
fish together often. You find
that Atteans’ distrust of “whites” comes from the loss of his mother
and father, as well as hunting territory to the incoming settlers.
As winter sets in Saknis offers to adopt Matt and take him north
with the tribe as it moves west beyond the reach of settlers. Matt was
impressed that Saknis offered the chance for him to be considered Attean's
brother, but he also knew he must wait for his own family. His family
finally returns in December and Matt waits to gradually tell his family
all about the “Indians,” figuring they wouldn’t understand.
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