Three weeks after arriving, everyone from the village is called to attend a grand council. Mehkoa rises and goes to a panicked Miriam and offers her a rare and valuable necklace. Mehkoa tells her that while he is away on a hunt, there will be a log house built and she will come to live with him. Miriam is horrified, throws the necklace, and runs back to her wigwam. Susanna and James follow her, and Susanna comforts her while James wishes she had been less abrupt.

Because Miriam shamed Mehkoa, her life in camp becomes much worse. Sylvanus tells Susanna and Miriam that he is going to join a hunting party. Susanna protests, but Sylvanus goes with the braves. Later, Miriam sees James and Susanna quarreling. James persuaded the Abenaki tribe to allow Miriam and the little girls to be sold in Montreal, and he would negotiate with Massachusetts to ransom the family.

Susanna’s adopted family will not allow her to go. Susanna says she is fine with this, because she would not leave until she has Sylvanus. Miriam refuses to go, but Susanna tells her that she is running out of time and will soon be married off to an old man.