Chapter 16 Summary

All is well in the Baxter clearing now as Penny slowly heals and Buck takes care of the fields and secures game for the family's meat. Even Ma has come to accept Buck and his kindness. The fawn keeps Jody occupied. He is playful and fun, but also a lot of work. Jody is interested, too, in all the work that Buck is doing. One morning Buck shows him the result of "vandals" in the cornfield, promising that the two of them will lie in wait tonight for the foxes that did the deed. He will also teach Jody to rob the bee tree of honey, he promises.

Jody must leave the fawn behind as they approach the bee tree. Near the sinkhole, Buck chops the bee tree down and stuffs smoldering moss into the hole in which the bees have made their...