Old Yeller: Chapter 14 Summary & Analysis

Mama knows that the dead bull’s corpse can’t be left lying where it is—it’ll smell up the yard. Plus, she adds, other animals might come eat parts of it and get infected with hydrophobia themselves. The corpse is too heavy to drag away, though, so Mama suggests that they burn it. Mama and Lisbeth go out to gather some firewood, and then Travis helps them start a huge fire. When the flames die down, however, the carcass isn’t even half burnt up. Mama, Lisbeth, and Travis spend two days and two nights lighting fires to burn up the corpse. On top of everything, Spot’s horrible moaning moos continue day and night. Travis is desperate for Papa to come home.

Once Roany’s corpse is gone, Mama tells Travis it’s time to do the same thing with Spot—Spot has to be killed and burnt. Travis’s leg is now healed enough to walk on, so he takes his gun and heads out to find Spot, who looks sicker and more starved than she did just a few days ago. When Travis comes upon some good dry land where her corpse will burn easily, Travis fires at her. She drops, and Travis returns to the cabin. He’s tired, and his leg hurts. Mama and Lisbeth head out to gather some wood and begin to burn the carcass, with Old Yeller happily following them.

Travis falls asleep. When he wakes up, it is sundown, and Little Arliss is in the yard playing with his pup. Travis wonders why Mama and Lisbeth aren’t back yet. He heads to the spring to get some water. As he walks, he reflects on the job he’s done while Papa has been away. He figures that, even with the problem of his leg, he’s done a pretty good job of handling things—but he’s still frightened that more and more animals will be infected with hydrophobia before Papa gets back.