Jody Baxter is a carefree boy, the only surviving child of Ezra ("Penny") and Ora Baxter. The story opens in April of Jody's twelfth year, in the early 1870's, to find him enjoying the simple life in the lush scrub country of northeast Florida. At every opportunity, Jody leaves his work to dawdle the day away, wanting for only one thing: a pet that will love him and follow him. While his father indulges his childhood urges, his mother remains cool and stern.

A clever old bear has been tormenting farmers in the area, and Penny has promised Jody that the two of them will hunt "Old Slewfoot." When the bear kills a precious brood sow, father and son track the wily thief, only to see him escape. They travel together to their nearest neighbors, the Forresters, where Penny trades a little dog for a more...