# XIV: Uncle Beeswax explained — Jibby Jones

> Chapter companion for Jibby Jones by Ellis Parker Butler.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters/xiv-uncle-beeswax
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/jibby_jones_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters