A few days after Rubin Pritchard’s death, a young neighbor brings Billy a message that his grandfather wants him to visit him at the store. Billy loves his grandfather but he dreads the visit, presuming that his grandfather wants to discuss Rubin’s accidental death. The memories of that night incessantly haunt Billy, and he wants to forget the entire episode.

The next day, Billy begins his trip to town. He scolds his hounds for trying to follow him. Eventually, however, he relents, and the hounds contentedly accompany him to town. When he reaches the store, Billy’s grandfather asks him to recount the events on the night of Rubin’s death. Billy explains everything that happened. His grandfather states that he feels responsible for the accident because he accepted the wager. Billy contends that no one was at fault for the accident. In fact, he tells his grandfather, the Pritchards took his money even though he won the bet. His grandfather’s mood lightens a little, and he tells Billy to forget the whole ordeal.

Billy’s grandfather says he wants to show him something. He shows him a newspaper advertisement announcing a ’coon hunting competition. He tells Billy that he has never won such a competition but has long wanted to do so. Billy is excited by the advertisement but does not initially realize that his grandfather wants to enter his hounds into the competition. When he becomes aware that his grandfather is willing to pay the registration fees for Old Dan and Little Ann to enter the competition, Billy is overwhelmed with pride and joy. His grandfather explains that he has logged every hide Billy has sold during hunting season and that he has reported the totals to the competition coordinators. The competition is scheduled to be held in six days, and Billy’s grandfather has made arrangements to travel by buggy to the hunting grounds.

Billy’s family is excited by the news, and his youngest sister makes him promise that he will give her the gold cup if he wins. Because his father plans to accompany him and his grandfather, Billy works hard to stockpile supplies for his mother and sisters in their absence. On the morning of their departure, Billy and his father walk to his grandfather’s store. Along the way, they discuss Billy’s hounds, commenting on their skills as hunters and the way they work as a team.

When they arrive at the store, the buggy is already loaded with groceries and supplies. Billy also notices that his ax, which he left on the ground beside Rubin Pritchard’s body, is included with the supplies. His grandfather explains that he cleaned the ax and stored it away until Billy had time to recover emotionally. Billy thanks him and accepts his ax, noting that it would come in handy during the hunt. Billy’s grandfather also insists that he make hay beds for hounds so they will be rested before the competition begins. As they leave the store yard, Billy’s grandmother wishes them a safe journey. Then they make their way toward the hunting grounds.