Chapter 3 Summary

In the spring, at the age of eleven, "the dog-wanting" still nags at Billy as he helps his father in the fields. One day, exploring a recently abandoned campsite, he finds an old sportsman's magazine. He reads in the classified ads a notice for redbone coon hound puppies for sale in Kentucky, $25 each. After a quick prayer perched on a sycamore log asking God to help him get those pups, he heads home, scheming about how he will raise the $50.

The next day Billy finds an old K.C. Baking Powder can for a bank and drops in the 23 cents he already has. All summer he picks berries to sell at his grandpa's store and harvests minnows, crawfish, and fresh vegetables to sell to fishermen. His grandfather promises to order the pups when Billy has enough money, and he will keep Billy's secret...