Chapter 14 Summary

A few days later Billy is summoned to Grandpa's store, his two dogs following. He doesn't want to talk about Rubin's death, but, sure enough, Grandpa wants to know all about it. Grandpa feels responsible, in a way, and insists that Billy must never feel guilty and should try to forget about it. Then Grandpa shows Billy an announcement in the newspaper of a big championship coon hunt that will be starting in six days. He has already paid to register Dan and Ann and asks Billy if he will take his dogs and enter the contest. The prize is a gold cup. Grandpa explains that being selected for this contest is very competitive. He has reported how many coons Billy's dogs have successfully hunted in order to get them qualified. Billy is ecstatic; of course he wants to go, and he feels...