Chapter Four Summary and Analysis

Gerald and Theodore sometimes spend most of a day together on what Theo calls "an excursion." Gerald notes that the weather is almost always wonderful, but that Theo typically has to point out that it's a good day for their outing. They take a lunch and travel three or four miles to a pond where they collect specimens. On one of these days they find "elvers," which Theo explains are groups of baby eels writhing their way across almost-dry ground to reach the pond where their parents had been. Theo points out the incredible homing instinct and that the journey is treacherous. As he's saying this, a number of eels fall victim to predators, including birds. The two would then share a lunch brought from Gerald's villa, explore the "other side" of the pond for awhile and go home...