In this chapter, we learn that the siblings have just met a mountain man, and that the man has come to collect their father's debts. The brothers are confused by the man's appearance, and wonder if he is a calamity spirit. The man explains that he came to collect his debts because he was specially sent to collect the debts of his master, who was dead ten years ago. The siblings wonder if the mountain man is still alive, and they wonder why the land where they are staying is still undeveloped, despite the fact that many people have tried to develop it