Chapter 22 Summary

By November the family begins to understand the extent of the damage. Deer and all other game usually hunted for their table are extremely scarce. Since the quail have survived and the wild turkeys have not, Penny concludes that the plague has been spread through the polluted swamp waters where the quail do not feed. Predatory animals, deprived of their natural diet, are now more hungry and daring. Penny fences his hogs in on the island, but a bear climbs the fence and steals one away. Penny sees the bear tracks, but it is midnight, and he will not risk a hunt at this hour. In the daylight they see that the track is that of Old Slewfoot. Father and son discuss the possibility of catching the bear when he comes back to the kill tomorrow. Meanwhile, Flag has broken free of his...