Where the Red Fern Grows

The night of Billy’s hunt arrives. Like the other hunters, Billy and his hounds try to get as far downstream as possible, away from where other teams have already hunted. The hounds catch the trail of a raccoon soon enough. Grandpa delights in whooping to them, which he wanted to do sooner but Billy wisely says he doesn’t whoop to them until they’ve found a trial.

Grandpa has a hard time keeping up, losing his hat and glasses in underbrush at one point and later slipping in the river. All are enjoying the hunt, however, including the judge.

In no time, they’ve already treed two raccoons. Building a fire for Grandpa to dry his river-soaked clothes, Old Dan and Little Ann suddenly bawl on the trail of a third. Old Dan eventually bawls treed, but Billy knows it’s not a sure deal until Little Ann joins. The raccoon has pulled a trick having something to do with a fence running along the tree line.

The dawn is rapidly approaching; they don’t have time to go after another raccoon. Finally, when Grandpa thinks they’re about to give up, Little Ann finds the scent and bawls treed at a different tree.