Brush

Me

Brush is the narrator's closest friend and companion, sharing nearly all daily activities and adventures.

Graybeard

Brush and Graybeard interact as elder and youth within the community, with Graybeard showing authority over Brush.

Lester

Brush and Lester are close friends and co-conspirators in the boys' adventures and pranks.

Frank La Flesche

Brush and Frank La Flesche are friends and classmates, interacting in the school environment.

Me

Brush is the narrator's closest friend and companion, sharing nearly all daily activities and adventures.

Me

Brush is the narrator's closest friend and companion, sharing nearly all daily activities and adventures.

Lester

Brush and Lester are close friends and co-conspirators in the boys' adventures and pranks.

Frank La Flesche

Brush and Frank La Flesche are friends and classmates, interacting in the school environment.

Graybeard

Brush and Graybeard interact as elder and youth within the community, with Graybeard showing authority over Brush.

Graybeard

Brush and Graybeard interact as elder and youth within the community, with Graybeard showing authority over Brush.

Lester

Brush and Lester are close friends and co-conspirators in the boys' adventures and pranks.

The Middle Five

A close friend and fellow student, involved in learning and play.

I: The Mission

An older boy who befriends the narrator, offering comfort and advice on how to survive among the schoolboys.

II: Brush

Rides in and wins a horse race; helps new boys Lester and Warren adjust to school.

Edwin

Helps fit Edwin with new clothes and shares a double bed with Warren.

Little Bob

Member of 'the Middle Five' gang who lingers to keep Frank company after school.

V: Warren

Warren's brother; encourages Warren to fight, trains him, and later offers to help Edwin fight Jim.

V: Warren

The chapter's focus; a skilled whittler who accepts Gideon's challenge and wins the fight.

VI: Lester

Identifies the bee swarm, explains bee and American history, borrows the spyglass, and leads the spying.

VI: Lester

First spots the bee swarm; rings the bell during the chase; meets a girl with candy.

The Splinter, the Thorn, and the Rib

Tells the biblical story of Adam and Eve; aspires to be a preacher; defends the minister.

The Splinter, the Thorn, and the Rib

Argues about the difference between a snake and a serpent; wakes up confused after the cloud-rubbing dream.

Fraudulent Holidays

Helps with the pig transfer, devises the plan to let the pigs out, and later negotiates the sale of the rabbit for cakes.

IX: William T. Sherman

Advises William T. Sherman on how to answer Graybeard's questions about swearing.

X: A Runaway

Remains at school; borrows a spyglass to watch the departing tribe and later nearly discovers the runaways while reading on horseback.

A New Study

Whispers news of the visitors' arrival; correctly answers 'Columbus' during the examination; competes in the spelling bee.

A New Study

Sends a note to his girl across the aisle; first to spot the black carriage and fat men.

XII: Ponka Boys

Leads the charge to retrieve the sleds; fights two Ponka boys before being rescued by Frank.

XII: Ponka Boys

Notices the Ponka boys leaving with the sleds; whispers to Brush; feels insulted when compared to an owl.

The Secret of the Big Seven

Member of the Middle Five, speaks for the group in agreeing to join the Big Seven's secret, and later refuses to answer Graybeard's questions, enduring a beating.

XV: Joe

Listens to the narrator's story, then confronts the superintendent about Graybeard's punishment, securing an apology.

The Break

Brush is ill and declines to join the narrator; he later dies after giving the narrator his jackknife and speaking of his grandfather.