# XIII: The Viking Ship explained — Jibby Jones

> Chapter companion for Jibby Jones by Ellis Parker Butler.

## What happens

The boys expand their worm mining operation but worry about flooding. Wampus discovers what they think is a Viking ship, but Jibby identifies it as a barrel of molasses, which bursts and covers them. They collect a reward for finding stolen molasses. Later, they encounter the Tough Customer and the Rat, who demand a missing paper, but Jibby cleverly deflects them, confirming the treasure map is still safe.

## Themes in this chapter

### Imagination and Ingenuity

The boys creatively interpret the buried barrel as a Viking ship, then later use their wits to outsmart the Tough Customer.

### Perseverance and Problem Solving

The boys continue mining despite flooding concerns, and Jibby solves the mystery of the barrel and the missing paper.

### Deception and Trust

The Tough Customer tries to deceive the boys into handing over the map, but Jibby sees through the bluff.

## Character check-ins

### Jibby Jones

Identifies the 'Viking ship' as a molasses barrel, remains calm during the flood, and cleverly evades the Tough Customer's demands.

### Wampus Smale

Excitedly proposes the Viking ship theory, works on the mine, and pilots the motorboat during the encounter with the Tough Customer.

### Skippy Root

Participates in the worm mine work and the molasses incident; suggests adding a signature to worm labels.

### Tad Willing

First to identify the buried object as a boat; helps excavate and is covered in molasses.

### The Tough Customer

Confronts the boys demanding a missing paper, but is outwitted by Jibby.

### The Rat

Appears on the shanty-boat, curses at the boys, and is told to be quiet by the Tough Customer.

## Key lines

> It's not a ship; it's a barrel. I guess it's an old barrel the river floated in here and covered up.

Jibby realizes the supposed Viking ship is actually a barrel that washed in and got buried.

_Jibby's practical observation debunks the boys' fantasy._

> I think we will get the reward.

Jibby remains optimistic about the reward even while covered in molasses.

_Shows Jibby's forward-thinking nature._

> If you got a piece of paper that fell off'n this boat... you'd better hand it over here and now.

The Tough Customer demands the missing map from the boys.

_The Tough Customer's aggressive attempt to retrieve the treasure map._

> We know one thing; they haven't found the treasure yet. If they had, they wouldn't care who had the map.

Jibby deduces that the treasure is still undiscovered because the Tough Customer is still after the map.

_Jibby's clever reasoning reassures the boys._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters/xiii-the-viking-ship
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/jibby_jones_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters