Little Britches: Chapter 10 Summary & Analysis

Ralph hits his head riding into the barn on Fanny. He rides too fast and, distracted by two buckskin horses tied outside his house, misses his window to jump. He wakes to find an old Native American  named Two Dog staring at him. When his father arrives, Two Dog covers for him, saying the horse “spooked.” Ralph follows his father inside who tells him that Two Dog and an old man named Mr. Thompson are joining them for dinner. Back in 1840, Mr. Thompson had his camp where the Moodys’ house currently stands.

Ralph’s mother is cooking a hen Father killed that day and the house smells good. Ralph learns that Mr. Thompson and Two Dog are staying over for supper and for the night. Two Dog refuses to come in for dinner, and Mr. Thompson explains that he does not like houses. At dinner, Mr. Thompson eats ravenously and messily. Ralph offers to take Two Dog his food outside. Two Dog requests sugar, and Ralph retrieves it and sits beside him. Two Dog slowly eats all the sugar in the bowl. When he finishes, he calls Ralph “Friend,” and Ralph leaves with a “lump in his throat” and “a big love” for Two Dog.

Ralph comes back inside to find Mr. Thompson telling stories about his adventures fighting American Indians. Ralph’s mother lets Ralph and Grace stay up late to listen. In bed, Ralph begins to think about Two Dog sleeping outside and decides to bring him a blanket. Two Dog accepts the blanket graciously and the two of them sit under it as though it were a tent. Ralph uses sign language to communicate with Two Dog, like he and his grandfather used to. With his fingers, Two Dog explains where he lives, pointing to the location up in the mountains near Turkey Creek. They chat for a while, then Two Dog signals for Ralph to go to bed, touching his leg three times.

The next morning, Mrs. Corcoran talks to Ralph as he takes the cows out. She insults Mr. Thompson and Two Dog, calling them dirty thieves and liars, and Ralph gets mad. He retorts that his family has more sense than she does and takes off with the cows. Later that night, Ralph goes by the Aultlands’ house for milk and Fred offers to pay him “double the ante” if he works for him instead of Mrs. Corcoran. Ralph accepts and Mrs. Corcoran is furious, but she ultimately asks Ralph to return once the haying is done. At home, Ralph tells his father what Mrs. Corcoran said about Two Dog and Mr. Thompson. His father says he believes Mr. Thompson’s stories.