How does Reverend feel about Little Tree and why? What does Little Tree do to get in trouble and why is the punishment so extreme?

The reverend tells Little Tree that the state can't provide money for these matters, but his Denomination has agreed to take him. He also says Little Tree will go to school and be assigned small work details. If he breaks the rules, he will be punished. He says there are no Indians at the school. Since his parents were never married, he is the first bastard they have ever accepted. Little Tree explains that the Cherokees had married them, but the reverend silences him, as he had not been asked a question.

The reverend tells Little Tree he does not have to go to church services, as bastards can't be saved, but he can listen in if he sits quietly in the back. He says that Granpa has been in jail and was unfit to raise him, so he assumes Little Tree has had no discipline. Little Tree tells him that Granpa almost got hung by the law once, which doesn't help to endear the reverend. The wind rises as he leaves the room, making them turn to the window. Little Tree knows that word has come about him from the mountain.

The deer are jumping on one another like they are pushing to get out of the water. She asks the class what the deer are doing.

Little Tree says he knows they're mating because it's the buck deer that are jumping on the does and he can tell by the trees that it's mating season. The teacher is in shock. She then starts shaking Little Tree, calling him filth and a bastard. He is taken to the reverend's office where he is severely beaten across the back with a big stick until he is profusely bleeding. He is sent to his dorm and told not to leave it for a week. That evening, Little Tree looks at the Dog Star and tells Granma and Granpa what happened, although he doesn't really understand it.