Plot Summary
In Chapter Seven, titled "My Father Meets a Lion," Elmer Elevator continues his journey across Wild Island after parting ways with the rhinoceros. While walking along the trail, he hears furious roaring and discovers a lion in a small clearing, pacing and clawing at his own mane, which has become hopelessly tangled with blackberry twigs. The lion is yelling at himself in frustration, growing angrier with every failed attempt to untangle the mess. Elmer tries to sneak around the clearing through the underbrush, but the lion spots him just as he is about to reach the other side of the trail. The lion charges, skids to a halt inches from Elmer, and announces he intends to eat the boy immediately rather than saving him for afternoon tea.
Character Development
Elmer once again demonstrates the quick thinking and calm resourcefulness that have carried him safely through each encounter on Wild Island. Rather than panicking when the lion threatens to devour him, Elmer asks the lion why he is so upset, buying himself time and showing genuine empathy. The lion reveals a surprisingly relatable vulnerability: his mother is coming to visit that afternoon by riding the dragon, and if she sees his tangled mane she will cut off his allowance. This detail humanizes the lion and adds comic depth to the story. Elmer seizes the opportunity, offering the comb, brush, and seven colored hair ribbons from his knapsack. He teaches the lion how to brush, comb, and braid his forelock, tying it with a ribbon. The lion becomes so absorbed in grooming himself that he does not even notice when Elmer slips away.
Themes and Motifs
The chapter reinforces the book's central theme of resourcefulness over brute strength. Elmer carries no weapons; his power lies in preparation and empathy. The recurring motif of the knapsack's carefully chosen supplies appears again here, with each item proving perfectly suited to a specific problem. The lion's fear of his mother's judgment introduces a gentle commentary on vanity and the desire for approval, themes presented with warmth and humor rather than moralizing. The chapter also continues the pattern of each animal encounter following a similar structure—danger, conversation, a clever gift, and escape—which builds a satisfying, rhythmic narrative momentum for young readers.
Literary Devices
Ruth Stiles Gannett uses dramatic irony and humor throughout the chapter. The image of a fearsome lion yelling at himself over tangled hair is inherently comic, deflating the expected danger of a predator encounter. The frame narrative device—the narrator recounting his father's childhood adventure—continues to create a cozy storytelling tone. Repetition in phrasing ("He crawled and crawled, and the yelling grew louder and louder") builds suspense while echoing the cadence of oral storytelling. The lion's dialogue is rich with personality, blending menace ("Ordinarily I'd save you for afternoon tea") with absurd domesticity (worrying about his allowance). Foreshadowing also appears through the lion's mention that his mother rides "the dragon," subtly reminding readers of Elmer's ultimate goal.