# VII: The Tough Customer explained — Jibby Jones

> Chapter companion for Jibby Jones by Ellis Parker Butler.

## What happens

After the fishing contest dinner and prize ceremony, the boys discover that the Tough Customer and the Rat have not left the island as ordered but have hidden their shanty-boat downstream. Jibby Jones leads the boys to spy on them, overhearing a conversation about a treasure map stolen from a redheaded man in a Helena jail. The map points to a location near Greenland, involving a creek and crossroads, and the Tough Customer convinces the Rat to abandon searching for stolen cider in favor of hunting the land pirate's treasure.

## Themes in this chapter

### Adventure and Exploration

The boys spy on the Tough Customer and the Rat, discovering a treasure map that promises a new adventure.

### Deception and Trust

The Tough Customer and the Rat make a pact with oaths, but the Tough Customer initially withheld the map, showing a lack of full trust.

### Cleverness vs. Brawn

Jibby uses his wits to plan the spying mission, while the Tough Customer relies on physical intimidation and the map's promise of treasure.

## Character check-ins

### Jibby Jones

Wins the fishing prize, makes a humorous speech about his nose, and leads the boys in spying on the Tough Customer and the Rat.

### Wampus Smale

Present at the dinner and prize ceremony; spots the Tough Customer's shanty-boat hidden in a cove.

### Rover

Tied up at night, howls at the moon and barks at intruders, then breaks his rope and chases the Tough Customer and the Rat.

### The Tough Customer

Argues with the Rat about staying on the island, reveals a treasure map stolen from a redheaded man in jail, and convinces the Rat to hunt for treasure instead of cider.

### The Rat

Complains about being shot at and wants to find the stolen cider, but is persuaded by the Tough Customer to follow the treasure map.

### Orpheus Cadwallader

Makes his rounds as caretaker at night; Rover wags his tail at him before later barking at the intruders.

## Key lines

> Well, we all had a good time at dinner, and Wampus’s Uncle Oscar made a speech and gave Jibby Jones the rod and reel, and Jibby made us laugh by saying we mustn’t blame him for winning the prize, because it wasn’t his fault he had an extra good nose; he said it was his Grandfather Parmenter’s fault, that he had inherited the nose from.

After a pleasant dinner, Uncle Oscar presented Jibby with the fishing rod and reel. Jibby joked that his victory was due to his inherited nose from Grandfather Parmenter.

_Jibby's humorous acceptance speech highlights his modesty and wit._

> The reason I tied Rover that night was because he is a wandering dog. He likes to explore. And what he likes to explore for is dead fish, mostly, and the deader the better.

Rover was tied up because he tends to roam at night, especially in search of dead fish to roll in, which made him unpleasant to be around.

_Explains Rover's habit and why he was restrained despite his howling._

> I got a map of the whole business. It’s been right there in that split board back of the lantern ever since I come aboard this boat.

The Tough Customer reveals he has a treasure map hidden in a crack behind the lantern on the shanty-boat.

_The map is central to the plot, stolen from a redheaded man in jail._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters/vii-the-tough-customer
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/jibby_jones_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters