Old Yeller: Chapter 11 Summary & Analysis

By the time Travis gets home, his leg is acting up. The cut muscle jerks and twitches, frightening Mama. Mama refuses to help take Travis back out to get Old Yeller until he lets her tend to his leg. As Mama cleans the wound out with turpentine, Travis screams in pain. Mama orders him to lie down—she says he’s not to leave bed for a week. Travis, however, announces that he will not leave Old Yeller to die. He defies Mama, goes outside, and starts readying Jumper for the journey. Soon, Mama is at his side, ready to find a way to bring Old Yeller back. She tells Travis to get some cowhides and then goes inside to fetch some pillows. Mama ties the pillows and cowhides to Jumper, then helps Little Arliss and Travis up onto his back. Mama clearly has a plan.

As the Coateses approach the bat caves, Travis can see some buzzards flying in a circle—he knows they must smell Old Yeller’s blood. They hurry closer to where Travis hid Old Yeller and immediately hear his barks. Travis is relieved that his beloved dog is still alive. Travis rolls away the stump in front of Old Yeller’s little hideout, and Mama immediately starts tending to Old Yeller’s wounds. She orders Travis to get a long hair from Jumper’s tail, then pulls a sewing needle from her pocket and starts sewing up Old Yeller’s terrible wound. Old Yeller is patient and quiet throughout the process.

When Mama is finished sewing Old Yeller up, she tells Arliss that it’s time to play a game—in this game, she says, Old Yeller is sick, and Arliss must take care of him as they ride home on a cowhide full of pillows tied to Jumper’s harness. Arliss is excited to ride home on the hide. Jumper puts up with the bizarre arrangement and lets Mama lead him by the halter through the rough countryside. The group stops twice for water when Old Yeller begins whimpering. Against all odds, they make it home. Travis’s leg is swollen, stiff, and painful, but he doesn’t care—he’s brought Old Yeller home.