Old Yeller

Little Arliss habitually tries to catch “every living thing that ran, flew, jumped or crawled” —from snakes to horny toads—and bring them home in his pocket (42). Old Yeller helps him catch bigger game, and Little Arliss tells elaborate stories about how he caught the animals himself. Travis thinks Little Arliss is becoming the biggest liar in Texas, but Mama finds his “big windies” amusing (44). While splitting logs, Travis hears Little Arliss scream and knows he is in trouble. Travis and Mama run to find Little Arliss in the spring, holding onto a baby black bear cub, with the angry mama bear crashing towards him. Old Yeller charges the mama bear. Travis grabs Little Arliss and gives him to Mama, then turns to kill the bear with his axe, but Old Yeller has kept the bear away. Travis runs to the cabin, and Old Yeller, seeing they are all safe, follows. 

Little Arliss’s brush with death makes Travis realize how much he loves his brother. He recognizes that Old Yeller saved Little Arliss’s life and his feelings for the dog change. Travis and Mama do not understand why Old Yeller has not been eating, until their neighbor,