Chapter Seventeen

Can you connect the dots?  Please reread the paragraph near the top of page 170 that begins "It was a moment..." and then the last paragraph of the chapter on page 180.  Do you see any connections here?  What does this tell you about Jack?

Chapter Sixteen

On page 166, the Justice of the Peace said, "I don't see any reason to let the law interfere with justice around here.  We never did before."  What do you think that means?

Chapter Sixteen

Why do you think gold prospectors considered horse stealin' "a heinous crime" that was worse than stealing gold or watches?

And this is a...

So this is a...

A Rocker, as Described in Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

Considering where the story leaves off at the end of this chapter, please make a prediction as to what you think will happen and explain why you think this.

Chapter Fourteen

After reading this chapter, do you now have more insight into how and why Praiseworthy thinks he can defeat The Mountain Ox?

Chapter Fourteen

So... what is the difference between a burro and a mule?

Chapter Thirteen

Why do you think Praiseworthy agreed to fight The Mountain Ox?  What do you think he has planned?

Miners with Long Toms, Auburn, California, 1852

Chapter Thirteen

Jack and Praiseworthy seem to have a knack for turning bad fortune into good.  What is the most recent example of this, and how do you think Praiseworthy was able to anticipate this turn of events?

Chapter Twelve

When Jack and Praiseworthy return to Hangtown (pp. 127-129), it seems that Praiseworthy's reputation has continued to grow.  Why do you think that "every man in the diggings became hard of hearing when he wanted to" and "they preferred a tall tale to the facts?" 

Miners near Hangtown, 1849


I'm offering a $10 reward in Budgar Bucks for the first blogger to correctly
identify the name of the present-day town previously known as Hangtown.

Chapter Twelve

Please reread pages 126-127.  What conclusions can you reach from the discussion of fathers, Aunt Arabella's picture, and Praiseworthy?

Chapter Eleven

What do you think of Pitch-pine Billy?  In explaining yourself, please discuss some specific examples from the text to support your point of view.

Chapter Eleven

The prospectors and miners in California seem to live and operate under their own set of "laws."  Why do you think that came to be?

Chapter Ten

There were a few new things that Jack learned about Praiseworthy in this chapter.  What were they and why did they surprise him?

Chapter Nine

Speaking of definitions (Matt's post), what did you learn about a "grubstake?"

Chapter Nine

What did Cut-Eye-Higgins say about the maps whereabouts? What was Jack's reaction?



Matt