Where the Red Fern Grows

by Wilson Rawls

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Chapter 7 Summary

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Billy’s puppies are equipped with proper collars and a proper home. Now he needs to teach them to hunt. To teach them properly, he will need a coonskin, so he renews his efforts to capture Mister Ringtail. For three weeks, despite his dogged efforts, the crafty raccoon eludes him. Perplexed and annoyed, Billy goes to his grandfather’s store to ask for advice.

Billy’s grandfather offers him straightforward and simple advice for catching the large raccoon. He instructs Billy to use a brace and bit to drill a hole into a sturdy, hollow log. Then he should bait the raccoon by placing a shiny object into the log. Finally, he needs to drive several nails into the log around the area where he has drilled the hole. He explains to Billy that the raccoon will reach into the log and grasp the shiny object, and the nails will pierce and entangle his paw. For a moment, Billy is excited to learn this trick. Then he accuses his grandfather of teasing him. He reasons that the raccoon can free himself by simply releasing the shiny object and withdrawing his paw. His grandfather assures him the trick will work because the raccoon will never release the shiny object.

Billy returns home and discusses this plan with his father. The next day, Billy sets several traps in the area near the river. Early the next morning, Billy races to his traps to see if he has captured any raccoons. Finding all of his traps empty, he asks his father if he made any mistakes when he fashioned the traps. His father speculates that the animals might be averse to human scent. Billy decides to be patient until his scent dissipates from the area near the traps. Each morning, he hurriedly runs to the river to check his traps. Each morning he is disappointed and aggravated. After a week, he is despondent and refuses to get out of bed.

Billy’s mother is again concerned by his fluctuating emotions and asks his father to talk to him. His father understands that Billy is downhearted because he has not captured a raccoon, and he explains to Billy that it typically takes a week for human scent to dissipate. The traps have been set a week, so he encourages Billy to check them again.

After breakfast, Billy checks his traps. His task begins with disappointment because his first traps are empty. Then, as he approaches his third trap, he hears the cries of a trapped raccoon. His dogs excitedly attack the animal and the animal strikes back. The raccoon is bigger and stronger than the puppies, so Billy grabs his puppies into his arms and runs home for help. He runs into the yard screaming for help, and his mother and sisters respond, thinking that a snake has bitten him. When he tells them that he is not injured and that his excitement stems from his capture of the big raccoon, his mother becomes stern. She tells him that he has frightened her unnecessarily and that he needs to be disciplined. His father arrives and comforts his mother.

When everyone is calm, the family follows Billy to the log. His father kills and frees the trapped raccoon. Then he tells Billy that he does not want him to use this trapping method again. He says that it is unsportsmanlike and unfair to the animals. Instead, he tells him to hunt animals using more traditional methods. Billy promises he will not use this trick again.

Using the large coonskin, Billy begins to train his puppies. He teaches them how to follow an animal’s scent throughout the area. He patiently leads them up tall trees and over tricky waters. Throughout the summer and into the fall, Billy applies himself to the task. When he has taught them all he knows, he eagerly awaits the first day of hunting season.

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