How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
All at once he stooped, darted his spear with one quick stroke, and came up with a glittering fish. He studied it for a moment. "Too small," he decided. To Matt's astonishment he spoke to the fish quite solemnly, a few incomprehensible words, then tossed it back into the stream. (10.11)
When it comes to nature, Attean doesn't just kill it—he respects it.
Quote #2
"Easy make new hook," Attean said. "Make many hooks."
Of course. Looking down at the simple thing in his hand, Matt realized that he never again need worry about losing a hook. He could make a new one wherever he happened to be. […] Grudgingly he had to admit that Attean had proved to him once again that he didn't always have to depend on white man's tools. (10.29-30)
Survive off the land? What? Even in the 18th century, many people depended on professionally-crafted tools to do things that they could totally do themselves if they knew how. Attean is teaching Matt the art of self-reliance.
Quote #3
Following after him, Matt began to feel uneasy. If Attean should take himself off suddenly, as he had a way of doing, Matt was not sure he could find his way back to the cabin. (11.21)
Nature is fun and all, but not when you're lost and alone and hungry. And did we mention lost? No wonder Matt's got the willies.
Quote #4
In a moment the bits came together in a rubbery gum, and the first bitterness gave way to a fresh piney taste. To his surprise, it was very good. The two boys tramped on, chewing companionably. Once more, Matt acknowledged to himself, Attean had taught him another secret of the forest. (11.52)
While we can't just go around eating everything we find in the forest, there sure are a lot of delicious secrets that nature has a way of collecting. One of those secrets, Matt learns, is that bitter can turn to sweet. Kind of like his relationship with Attean.
Quote #5
Attean had picked up the dead bird carefully and carried it away with him. No doubt the Indians would find some use for every scrap of bone and feather. Matt knew by now that Attean never shot anything just for the fun of it. (12.1)
Quote #6
He felt resentful. Attean had killed the bear, of course. It was his by right. But Matt would have liked just a small share of that meat, or even one of those big claws to show his father. Then he remembered the Indian boy's tribute. He had moved fast, like an Indian. That would have to be share enough. (15.27)
Matt's feeling a little selfish here, but we can't blame him too much. After all, we think Attean would have felt the same way if the roles were reversed. Matt helps kill a bear, but has nothing to show for it.
Quote #7
There was a chilliness inside him as well that neither the sun nor the fire ever quite reached. It seemed to him that day by day the shadow of the forest moved closer to the cabin. (18.1)
Is the chilliness Matt's fear of loneliness? Or is Matt worried about his survival through the winter?
Quote #8
"Snow come soon," Saknis persisted. "Not good white boy stay here alone. White boy come with Indians." (21.14)
Saknis knows that Matt doesn't have the same skill as the Indians to survive in the natural world alone. He's offering him family, sure, but also protection.
Quote #9
Proud though he was of his harvest, Matt knew in his heart that it was far from enough. The hunt for food would be never-ending. (23.4)
That's the thing about survival: it's a continual process. This is totally true today too, though it looks more like grocery shopping, lunch packing, and meal cooking. Survival needs don't go away—they just look different as time passes.
Quote #10
The bank of snow outside reached almost to the latch. He stared at it in alarm. Was he going to be a prisoner in his own cabin? With all his preparations, he had never thought of a shovel. (24.6)
Rats. His first big snowstorm alone, and Matt already realizes he might be trapped. What a bummer, right? If it weren't for Saknis's gift of snowshoes… we don't even want to think about what might have happened.