Chapter 21 Summary

All night, the fire in Jeronimo rages. The family is safe in the Acre, but they are plagued by mosquitoes. Mr. Haddy's boat, their best home to escape, has been burned. The children sleep under a lean-to. Alone, Charlie sits up all night watching. Allie Fox sleeps long into the morning, after everyone is awake. No one wants to hear what he will say. Mother finds the children's baskets and helps them gather yautia, guavas and wild avocados. She praises the children for building the Acre and learning so much about the jungle.

Father rises after thirteen hours of sleep, puts his baseball cap on his head and proclaims he barely slept a wink. Father insists he's happy Jeronimo is destroyed, because it makes him free. He also claims he tried to diffuse the situation with the three white men peaceably. He insults...