Where the Red Fern Grows

by Wilson Rawls

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Chapter 19 Summary

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After winning the hunting competition, Billy and his hounds fall back into their normal routine. At night, they hunt in the woods near his home. A few weeks after the competition, Billy is hunting with his hounds when they begin to stalk an unusual animal. Based on the animal’s activity, Billy soon realizes they are not stalking a raccoon. He assumes they are chasing a bobcat, but he is terrified to discover that the animal is a mountain lion.

Old Dan is staunchly determined to keep the powerful animal treed, and the mountain lion is irritated by the chase. Billy cautiously approaches the tree, hoping to seize Old Dan’s collar and lead him away from the deadly cat. Before he can reach him, the cat attacks. Old Dan and Little Ann begin fighting for their lives. Billy realizes they are no match for the powerfully vicious animal.

In an effort to save his hounds, Billy readies his ax to strike the cat. He rushes into the fight and begins hacking away at the mountain lion. When the mountain lion realizes Billy is striking it with an ax, it turns its fierce gaze upon him. The mountain lion springs into the air to attack Billy. Instantly, his hounds leap between him and the cat, saving Billy from being mauled. Again the mountain lion and the hounds engage in deadly battle.

Billy knows the mountain lion will likely kill his dogs. Therefore, he retrieves his ax and chops the mountain lion in the head, finally killing it. The fight is over, and Billy examines his dogs for injuries. Little Ann’s wounds are superficial, but Old Dan’s injuries are serious. Leaving his lantern and his ax, he rushes home and awakens his parents. They are alarmed by his report. His mother carefully attends to Old Dan’s wounds, then Billy helps his mother treat Little Ann’s cuts and scratches.

Shortly after receiving medical attention, Old Dan dies. His injuries were too severe to admit recovery. When his dog dies, Billy is inconsolable. He feels embittered and cannot bring himself to pray. Unable to sleep, he sits near the fire alone. Then he hears Little Ann outside the door. She was so accustomed to sleeping next to Old Dan that she cuddled up next to his dead body. This loving act overwhelms Billy; he runs to the riverside and cries for hours.

The next day, Billy chooses a lovely hillside location, digs a grave, and buries Old Dan. Two days later, Billy’s mother informs him that Little Ann refuses to eat. Billy searches for his dog and finds her and force-feeds her. Still, she is unresponsive. On the next day, Billy finds her lying next to Old Dan’s grave. She is dead.

Billy is heartbroken. His mother finds him sitting next to the grave and encourages him to pray. He rejects the suggestion, explaining that his loss is too great. When his response moves his mother to tears, he apologizes. She convinces him to accompany her home for dinner because his father wants to talk to him. Then she helps him cover Little Ann’s body with leaves until he can bury her properly.

After dinner, Billy’s father informs the children that the family will soon be moving to town. He explains that the contest award money, the sale of Billy’s hides, and his family’s savings are finally enough for the family to move. The children will finally be able to go to school.

Billy is unmoved by the news. He still grieves for his hounds and he cries himself to sleep. The next day, Billy buries Little Ann next to Old Dan. He finds a block of stone in the woods and uses it to make a grave marker for his dogs.

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