These short works offer three different approaches to Faulkner, each representative of his work as a whole. "Spotted Horses" is a hilarious account of a horse auction, and pits the "cold practicality" of women against the boyish folly of men. "Old Man" is something of an adventure story. When a flood ravages the countryside of the lower Mississippi, a convict finds himself adrift with a pregnant woman. And "The Bear," perhaps his best known shorter work, is the story of a boy's coming to terms with the adult world. By learning how to hunt, the boy is taught the real meaning of pride, humility, and courage.