Regardless of Nick's close experience with death, he was still not prepared for the ultimate devastation a human being can undertake---a broken heart. The story, Ten Indians, begins with an older Nick than the previous stories, along with a few of his friends coming home after enjoying a fabulous Fourth of July evening. Though it seems that the scar from the Indian's suicide plays no role in Nick's everyday life, one must remind themselves that such a thing will stay with Nick for eternity.
Subsequent to his arrival home and the discussion of his day with his father over dinner, Nick's father informs him that he saw his very close friend, Prudence, in the woods with Frank Washburn, another young boy. At first, Nick is speechless and does not know what to say or even how to react; nevertheless, he does his best not to allow his father to know the hurt he is feeling inside. Later that night, while in bed, Nick realizes that his heart is broken---to experience such an unbearable occurrence at such a young age is simply torture.
In spite of his early destitution, Nick Adams does indeed grow up to be a fine young man. Part of the reason for this---and I feel that it was done intentionally by Hemingway ---is the manner in which his adversities were played out. In both instances previously mentioned, Nick's father is always there for him. In times of distress, all one really needs is a powerful figure to look up to---in Nick's case that powerful entity lies within his father. Though Hemingway could easily have had Nick find out about Prudence and Frank Washburn through one of his childhood friends, he did not, in order to create a stronger feeling of father and son. This goes to show how big of an influence a father had on both Nick's as well as Ernest Hemingway's life.
One may wonder the reason that Hemingway included such a harsh and unusual incident in one of his stories" beginnings---by this, I mean the suicide of the Indian.