How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
To him it made no difference how long the road, or how rough or rocky. His old red feet would keep jogging along, on and on, mile after mile. There would be no crying or giving up. (1.31)
Hm, could it possibly be that Billy sees a little of himself in this old dog? It sounds like someone is doing a little bit of projection—and it tells us a lot more about Billy than it does about the dog.
Quote #2
I didn't give up. After my talk with Papa, I went to Mama. I fared no better there. (2.9)
LOL, Billy. We've tried this one. If your parents have their act together, it's totally not going to work. The difference between Billy and us is that, after both our parents have said "no," we usually give up. Not Billy. He works for two years to get what he wants.
Quote #3
I caught crawfish with my bare hands [...] I tore my way through the blackberry patches until my feet were scratched raw and red from the thorns. (3.17)
Okay, this is just impressive. Catching something barehanded is basically a shortcut to "hardcore." Combine that with his Rambo-esque romp through the blackberry bushes, and we quickly get an idea of Billy's character.
Quote #4
With my three little traps and bulldogged determination, I set out to trap Mister Ringtail. For three solid weeks I practically lived on the river. (7.2)
In case we've forgotten that this is still an adult recollecting his past, here comes the word "bulldogged" to remind us. Seriously, how many adolescents do you know using words like "bulldogged"?
Quote #5
Nine times out of ten, one pup would swim one way and the other one would go just the opposite way. I had a time with this part of their training, but my persistence had no bounds. (7.141)
Way to pat yourself on the back there, Billy. To be fair, it is pretty impressive: he's learning patience at the same time he's larnin' them to swim.
Quote #6
Gritting my teeth, I said, "I don't care how big you are, I'm not going to let my dogs down. I told them if they put a coon in a tree I would do the rest and I'm going to. I'm going to cut you down. I don't care if it takes me a whole year." (8.100)
This is a make or break moment for Billy. He's about to prove to his dogs—but really to himself—whether he's a real hunter or not. Also, we'd like to emphasize again that this kid is 13 (or so) years old.
Quote #7
"Give up!" Grandpa barked. "Now I don't want to hear you say that. No, sir, that's the last thing I want to hear. Don't ever start anything you can't finish." (9.7)
Well, now we know where Billy gets his stubborn, pig-headedness from: Grandpa. Not to mention dear old dad. It seems like perseverance is a family trait.
Quote #8
I told him I hadn't given up. My dogs were still hunting. When they gave up, I would, too. (13.21)
Billy may have a lot of perseverance, but it's nothing compared to his dogs. This is a really cute moment, because it shows how much Billy respects and depends on his dogs—he doesn't use them or take them for granted.
Quote #9
In a low voice, the judge said, "I'll say one thing. They don't give up easily." (16.64)
We know that Billy gains strength from his dogs, but maybe it works both ways. Do they gain strength from Billy? Or is it a chicken-and-egg type situation?
Quote #10
"That's what has me worried," I cried. "They won't come in. They won't, Papa. Little Ann might, but not Old Dan. He'd die before he'd leave a coon in a tree." (17.35)
What makes Billy such a good hunter isn't just that he's got some awesome dogs; it's that he really understands their strengths and weaknesses. Old Dan, for example. Billy knows that Old Dan would never give up—even if it means fighting to the (literal) death.