Summary

Chapter XXXVII, Out of the Frying Pan into the Oven – Billy’s dad hears the commotion and comes to the barn. He tells Alan and Joe to go home, and then sends Billy up to his room. Billy tries to argue that he needs to eat the final worm, but Billy’s dad sends him up to his room anyways, saying he has told Billy and his friends to stay away from the old cistern. Billy is stunned.

Chapter XXXVIII, $%//!?Blip*/&! – Billy angrily kicks his bed. He is enraged because he is only two bites away from winning the bet, and because he himself had nothing to do with the cistern.

Chapter XXXIX, The United States Cavalry Rides Over the Hilltop – Tom arrives to see Billy, but is told that Billy is punished. Tom asks what has happened in order to distract...