Brian's Return

When Brian returns to the canoe and sees the sun going down, he worries that he is behind schedule before realizing that he has no schedule. His purpose for being in the woods is to learn and know, not to follow time constraints. He sets up camp, taking extra precautions after learning from his mistakes with the storm. Then, he leaves to hunt for grouse (a type of bird) or rabbit. Although he sees several animals as he moves quietly through the forest, his desire to see and appreciate the environment outweighs his desire to kill an animal. After a few hours, he feels it is time to end the hunt and he shoots a grouse with a clean shot on his bow. As he makes his way back to camp, he smells smoke and realizes another person must be there. He approaches quietly and sees a middle-aged man with a well-worn canoe boiling water by the fire. Although the man’s back is turned, he knows Brian is there. Brian is tempted to ask the man several questions, but after thinking a moment, Brian realizes he can answer many of them without asking. The man’s skin and worn but well-maintained gear suggests that he has lived in the woods for a long time.