The white-scabs disease spreads quickly among the Lone Eaters camp. Mik-api, Boss Ribs, and Fools Crow go from the lodge, performing purifying ceremonies, but they know there is little they can do to cure those who have already fallen ill. Boss Ribs tells Fools Crow that he should leave the camp with Red Paint and go to the Backbone until the sickness is gone. When he gets to his lodge, Red Paint tells Fools Crow that her brothers have fallen sick. Now that Red Paint’s family is sick, he knows he will never be able to persuade her to go away with him.

After thirteen days of sickness, Fools Crow and Rides-at-the-door go from lodge to lodge counting the sick and the dead. Among the dead is Three Bears, who named Rides-at-the-door his successor before dying, and Good Young Man. Rides-at-the-door tells Fools Crow to organize a blackhorn hunt to prepare for winter. On the hunt, Fools Crow and the other men see a group of Pikunis from Heavy Runner’s band, “three old people, two young women, a youth of twelve or thirteen winters, and two children,” approaching them on foot (379).