Five Children and It · Chapter
X: Scalps explained
Cyril's idle wish for Red Indians comes true, leading to a tense day as the children fear an attack.
What happens
Cyril's idle wish for Red Indians comes true, leading to a tense day as the children fear an attack. Anthea cleverly sends Martha and the Lamb away for safety. The Indians capture the children but only scalp their false hairpieces, and the wish is undone when the Indian chief wishes to return to his native land.
Themes in this chapter
Wish Fulfillment and Its Consequences
Cyril's casual wish for Red Indians leads to a dangerous situation, highlighting the unintended and often chaotic outcomes of the children's wishes.
Family and Sibling Dynamics
Anthea's protective actions toward the Lamb and the siblings' cooperation in the face of danger underscore their familial bonds.
Characters to notice
- Cyril
Cyril's wish for Red Indians, inspired by 'The Last of the Mohicans', sets the chapter's events in motion.
- Anthea
Anthea takes decisive action to protect the Lamb by breaking the jug and sending him away with Martha.
- Jane
Jane recalls Cyril's wish and supports Anthea's plan, though she is initially confused.
- Robert
Robert is captured by the Indians and fears for his scalp, but is relieved when only the false hair is taken.
- The Lamb
The Lamb is sent away for safety with Martha, avoiding the Indian attack.
- Martha
Martha takes the Lamb to Rochester and returns with a replacement jug, also announcing her engagement to Beale.
Key passages
“I wish there were Red Indians in England—not big ones, you know, but little ones, just about the right size for us to fight.”
Cyril wishes for small Red Indians in England for them to fight.
This wish, made casually at breakfast, unexpectedly comes true and drives the chapter's conflict.
“Their scalps are ours... they yielded their scalps to the conquering Rock-dwellers!”
The Indians claim the children's scalps, but only take their false hairpieces.
The comedic anticlimax where the Indians scalp only the children's fake hair, sparing them real harm.