Chapter 20 Summary

Buck and Mill Wheel Forrester ride over to see how the Baxters are faring. It is decided that Penny and Jody will join them to explore the area and determine what to expect in terms of the movement of game and predators. Jody shuts Flag up in the shed and Penny fills his shot-bag and a knapsack in preparation. They will camp for the night if necessary. The brothers mention that Lem has gone to check on Twink and possibly fight with Oliver again.

The men discover that the squirrel population has moved north, and Silver Glen has overflowed, revealing dead animal carcasses and an unbelievable array of snakes of all kinds, some dead and some alive. Low areas are flooded and pine trees are bent from wind and rain. They wade through ankle-deep water to approach Doc Wilson's house. He has left...