The Whipping Boy

With his hiding place revealed, Jemmy runs away. Cutwater chases him, followed by Prince Horace. As he begins to run into the forest, Jemmy is shocked to encounter a bear. The bear ignores him, and Jemmy hides in a hollow tree. Cutwater misses him and heads off in the wrong direction; Jemmy hopes that the criminal runs into the bear. However, Prince Horace finds Jemmy’s hiding place.

Jemmy tells Prince Horace that he ruined their chance of escape by revealing his hiding place. The prince is indifferent, and tells Jemmy that he is going with him, even though Jemmy objects.

Jemmy begins trekking through the forest. He can hear Prince Horace following closely behind, despite telling him “I’ve no more idea than a gnat where I’m headin” (45). The two boys hear a voice, and stumble upon a girl calling out for someone named Petunia. Jemmy approaches the girl, Betsey, and asks if she knows the way to the river. The girl explains that she is looking for her bear, Petunia. As soon as Jemmy confirms that he saw the bear, the girl takes off. She calls out vague directions to the river as she runs off.