The Sign Of The Beaver

The Sign of the Beaver

This story took place on the frontier, in the summer of 1768, in Maine's woods. Matt Hallowell and his father stake a claim in Maine territory. Once they find the perfect place, they build a new cabin. There were many trees around and a river close by where they could get water and food. There was even enough room to plant corn. There weren't any other settlers there. After Matt and his father got the place ready, they both decided that Matt would stay to guard the new cabin while his dad went back to Massachusetts to get the rest of the family including Matt's mother who was going to have a baby and his sister. Matt is only twelve years old and he has to stay by himself in the wilderness. He is scared but knows he can do it.

Matt Hallowell is twelve years old and is very smart. He does not have experience in being in the wilderness alone but he knew that he had to prove to his family that he was old enough to take care of himself and the new cabin. He learned really fast how to take care of the crop, fish and do housework. Matt is very trusting. He left the door to the cabin unlocked all the time until a man named Ben entered the cabin when Matt was away and stole his food and father's gun. He had to learn to be more careful and protect his things. Matt's family was proud of him because he had learned how to survive and become friends with the Indians. Attean's grandfather liked Matt because he taught Attean how to read. In the beginning of the story Attean did not like Matt but by the end of the story they became friends.

Attean is a young Penobscot Indian. He is tall and has very long, black hair. He lives in the area that Matt and his father have claimed for their land. Because of how the white men treated them, he did not know whether he could trust him. At first, Attean is very mad and does not want to learn to read from Matt. His grandfather makes him go back to Matt's cabin to read. Attean started to trust Matt and even became his friend after Matt taught him how to read Robinson Caruso. The main thing Attean thinks about is becoming a man and a hunter.