Which hound died? How? What does Little Tree learn from this experience? Chapter 10

The next morning the dogs are still jumpy and feel proud like Little Tree. But Little Tree tries not to act uppity, as his adventure was just part of the whiskey business. One hound, Ringer, is missing; so they set off with the other hounds to find him. They find him alive in the mountain, though it looks like he was bludgeoned. Granpa carries Ringer down, and they stop by the spring branch to wipe away the blood. Little Tree looks at his gray hair and bleary eyes, and realizes how old he is. He leans down and tells Ringer how much he appreciated his help in the mountains. Ringer licks his face in response. Granpa lets Little Tree help carry him the rest of the way. When they reach the cabin, Granpa lays him down and pronounces he's dead; but he was aware he had been found and taken home, so he felt good before he died. He says Ringer died the way all hounds want - 'doing for their folks and in their woods'. They bury Ringer under an oak, near the corn patch he used to protect. After saying their goodbyes, Little Tree feels empty and sad. Granpa tells him the only way not to feel sad at times like this would be never to love anything; but then you'd feel empty all of the time, so there was no point in that.