Jibby Jones · Chapter
XIV: Uncle Beeswax explained
The boys encounter Uncle Beeswax being chased by the Tough Customer and the Rat, who mistakenly believe he has their treasure map.
What happens
The boys encounter Uncle Beeswax being chased by the Tough Customer and the Rat, who mistakenly believe he has their treasure map. Uncle Beeswax reveals he only has a map of a grape tree. Jibby Jones shows the map to the Tough Customer, satisfying them. Uncle Beeswax and Jibby bond over their prominent noses. Later, the boys investigate the Tough Customer's digging sites and find they have dug extensively but found nothing, making the treasure seem hopeless.
Themes in this chapter
Friendship and Teamwork
The boys work together to protect Uncle Beeswax and investigate the treasure digging sites.
Deception and Trust
The Tough Customer and the Rat mistakenly suspect Uncle Beeswax of having their map, leading to a confrontation resolved by showing the grape tree map.
Perseverance and Problem Solving
The boys persist in searching for treasure despite the Tough Customer's extensive digging and apparent failure.
Characters to notice
- Jibby Jones
Defends Uncle Beeswax, shows the grape tree map to the Tough Customer, and bonds with Uncle Beeswax over their noses.
- Uncle Beeswax
Chased by the Tough Customer and the Rat; reveals he only has a map of a grape tree; becomes friendly with the boys after joking about noses.
- The Tough Customer
Chases Uncle Beeswax, believing he has their treasure map; later inspects the grape tree map and is satisfied.
- The Rat
Accompanies the Tough Customer in chasing Uncle Beeswax and consulting about the map.
- Skippy Root
Yells at the Tough Customer to explain that Uncle Beeswax only has a grape tree map.
- Wampus Smale
Present during the confrontation and later investigation of the digging sites.
Key passages
“Noble! Just plumb noble, and there ain't any other words for it! What a nose! What a nose!”
Uncle Beeswax exclaims in admiration of Jibby's nose, calling it noble.
Uncle Beeswax's first reaction to Jibby's nose, leading to their bonding.
“If I had two of 'em, and the other was a green one, I'd look like a steamboat.”
Uncle Beeswax jokes that if he had two noses, one green, he would resemble a steamboat.
Uncle Beeswax's humorous comment about his red nose.
“Can't understand it! Can't understand it! Never was chased in my life before. And they acted like they would kill me, them men.”
Uncle Beeswax expresses confusion and fear about being chased by the Tough Customer and the Rat.
Uncle Beeswax's bewilderment at the unexpected pursuit.