night later on his dogs tree a mountain lion and the big cat attacked Old Dan and Little Ann. Billy rushed in with his ax and then when the cat was about to pounce on him the two dogs jump in and save his life. The dogs fight with mountain lion until Billy gets a good lick with the ax across its back. Both dogs are hanging limply around the throat of the mountain lion and clamping down on its jugular. Both dogs where injured though, Little Ann had a cut on her shoulder, but Old Dan was much worse. Billy cries while he uses the dog’s blood to make mud and fill up the wounds, he was trying to stop the bleeding long enough to get him home. Walking home he hears Little Ann whimper, Old Dan had fallen behind and his innards were hanging out of his body and hung on a bush. Billy gently pushed them back in and got him home. When they finally return home, his mother runs the dog's entrails through water, but it is not enough. The dog dies, and Billy is crushed. He buries Old Dan on a high hill overlooking the valley. In a few days, it is clear that Little Ann has lost her will to live. She dies too, and he buries her next to Old Dan. Billy is heartbroken; he says that God is not fair. Billy's papa tries to tell him that it is all for the best, because with the money Billy has earned, the family hopes to move to town. Billy does not completely recover until on the day of the move, he goes to visit the dogs' graves and finds a giant red fern. According to Indian legend, only an angel can plant a red fern. Billy and his family look at the fern in awe. They leave him, and while he is looking at the fern he makes peace with the fact that his dogs have died...
