Chapter 8 Summary

Before Jody reaches the cabin, he smells meat cooking, and that can mean only that his father has been hunting. At the smokehouse door Penny reveals that he shot a buck as he rode home yesterday, using his new gun, left loaded by Lem. Jody is frustrated that he has missed out on this hunt. Inside, Ma is busy cooking venison. She and Jody exchange their usual banter with Ma always just on the edge of exasperation.

Pa reports that Julia is on the mend and will be ready to hunt Old Slewfoot in a month. He intends to let the Forresters hunt their way and he'll hunt his way. Now Jody confides to his father that he was scared when the dogs were fighting the bear, and Penny admits that he too was afraid when his gun would not work. Jody admires...