The chapter opens with a sweeping depiction of the Far West prairies, presenting them as an immense, almost boundless ocean of vegetation where beauty and danger coexist. The landscape is described as vast green plains dotted with rivers, gradually revealing hills, cliffs, and countless hidden irregularities. A dense and chaotic flora flourishes, with enormous trees, palms, cacti, vines, and flowers of striking colors. This abundance of life extends to the animal kingdom, where countless species coexist in a constant struggle for survival: deer, bison, wild horses, predators such as pumas, jaguars, bears, and snakes, as well as a rich variety of birds filling the air. The Indians are portrayed as masters of this wilderness, moving with agility and confidence through the terrain, hunting and surviving where European settlers would perish. The text emphasizes the brutal law of the desert: isolation means death, and survival depends on weapons, knowledge, and resilience.
The narrative then shifts to a specific moment in this wilderness, where a man known as Cèdre-Rouge emerges exhausted from dense vegetation along the Rio Gila. He is alone, without food, weapons, or supplies, accompanied only by his loyal dog. A seasoned woodsman, he nevertheless finds himself in an unprecedented situation of vulnerability. The absence of tools and companionship leaves him psychologically and physically weakened, and he begins a desperate struggle for survival. He wanders aimlessly through the prairie under extreme heat, observing animals that no longer fear him. Hunger and exhaustion intensify until he collapses, forced to survive on whatever nature provides.
Eventually, he discovers edible roots resembling yuca, which temporarily restore his strength. While continuing his journey, he notices an unusual patch of grass that suggests the presence of a hidden cache. Recognizing the signs from his experience as a frontier hunter, he becomes convinced that supplies may be buried underground. Driven by hope, he begins carefully excavating the site with his knife, enduring physical exhaustion and growing despair as the search initially yields nothing. However, persistence leads him to uncover a buried hide covering a cache.
Overcome with emotion, he reveals its contents: weapons, ammunition, hunting tools, and essential equipment left by other trappers. The discovery transforms his situation completely, restoring his confidence and survival capabilities. He equips himself with rifles, pistols, powder, and supplies, while leaving the cache largely intact and concealed again according to frontier custom. Regaining his identity as a capable hunter, he prepares to continue his journey with renewed strength and determination, reflecting on his near-death experience and the harshness of the wilderness.
The chapter closes by recalling that Cèdre-Rouge had previously been leading a larger group before being isolated in the prairie, raising the question of how he came to be alone in such a desperate situation