The boy entered and Crooked Arrow rose to greet him.
“It is very kind of you to come and see me.”
“Is it not the thing to do for friends to visit one another?” asked Black Hawk. “Why do you live here by yourself? Have you no family?”
“No, Black Hawk, Crooked Arrow has no family, and I have liked living here on the edge of the village. It is quiet and I get much time to work on my tools for fishing and hunting. I like it here.”
Black Hawk stayed until it was quite late and he noticed that Crooked Arrow talked on and on about many, many things. Finally it was getting very late and Black Hawk rose to leave.
“Come again, little Black Hawk. My wigwam is always open to my good friend. The next time you come we will have another fine talk.”
“Thank you, friend Crooked Arrow. I shall return often for you have been a good friend.”
With that, Black Hawk turned and walked to his own wigwam. As he approached his home he noticed his father just leaving. When Tall Hawk saw his son, he stopped and called to him. “Black Hawk, my son, where have you been? It is quite late and your mother was getting quite concerned.”
“I was visiting with a friend, my father, a very good friend.” It was then that Black Hawk spoke with his father about the events on the fishing trip and about how Crooked Arrow had knelt at the lakeside and thanked the Great Spirit for his friend, Black Hawk.
His father listened attentively and then when Black Hawk had finished he said, “My son, I am very proud of you. You have done a great and generous thing. Crooked Arrow has been a lonely person. You have brought much joy to his life. To have a friend is a wonderful thing.”