# Good Hunting explained — The Story of the Treasure Seekers > Chapter companion for The Story of the Treasure Seekers by E. Nesbit. ## What happens The Bastable children spend their treasure money on various small wants, then hold a council to decide their next moneymaking scheme. Noël's poetry is considered for a book, but there are only seven poems. Oswald and Noël travel to London to submit the poems to a newspaper. On the train, they meet a jolly lady who is a poet herself; she reads Noël's work, praises it, and gives them two shillings, advising them to tell their father. Father later reveals the lady is a famous poet, and the children feel honored. ## Themes in this chapter ### Creativity and Storytelling Noël's poetry and the children's plan to publish it highlight the value of creative expression as a means to restore family fortunes. ### Childhood Adventure and Imagination The train journey to London, the encounter with the lady poet, and the 'good hunting' motto reflect the children's imaginative approach to their quest. ### Innocence and Moral Development Oswald's internal conflict about truth-telling versus sparing Noël's feelings, and the children's adherence to Father's rule about strangers, show their evolving moral reasoning. ## Character check-ins ### Oswald Bastable Narrates the chapter; accompanies Noël to London to submit poetry; negotiates the gift of shillings from the lady poet. ### Noël Bastable His poetry is the focus of the scheme; shares his work with the lady poet on the train; receives encouragement and two shillings. ### Dora Bastable Sews buttons on H.O.'s clothes; copies out Noël's poems for submission. ### Dicky Bastable Questions the poetry plan; thinks practically about payment for poems. ### Alice Bastable Teaches Pincher to beg; suggests using the advertisement scheme; pays H.O.'s share for the scissors. ### H. O. Bastable Cuts off his suit buttons; waves and shouts 'Good hunting!' at the station. ## Key lines > We told her all about digging for treasure, and what we meant to do. The children explained their previous treasure-digging scheme and their overall plan to restore the family's wealth. _Oswald recounts sharing their adventures with the lady poet._ > Good old Kipling! We owe him those two shillings, as well as the Jungle Books! The children credit Rudyard Kipling for the phrase 'good hunting' and feel indebted to him for both the shillings and the books. _Oswald expresses gratitude and admiration for Kipling's influence._ > O Eloquence and what art thou? Ay what art thou? because we cried And everybody cried inside When they came out their eyes were red— And it was your doing Father said. Noël's poem questions the nature of eloquence, attributing the congregation's tears to the preacher's powerful speech. _This excerpt shows Noël's poetic inspiration from a real event._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/iv-good-hunting - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters