Chapter 24 Summary

The new settlement in Laguna Miskita is afflicted with a drought. The water in the lagoon retreats daily. Each day dark clouds gather over the coast near Brewer's Lagoon, but by afternoon, they dissipate without any rain. Father becomes increasingly infuriated, turning his anger on the family. Jerry develops a new nickname for Father, calling him "Farter." To plant their seedlings, the family must crack the earth's crust and make troughs. They laboriously haul buckets of water to soak the roots. Father designs a mechanical pump to water the garden, but it requires seven men to operate.

Father refuses to eat the native food and says he will go without sleep until it rains again. He spends the nights rebuilding the Evinrude outboard motor. When Mother calls the outboard his toy, Father replies that it is the only thing that is keeping him...