The Incredible Journey

The Incredible Journey was written by Sheila Burnford and published in 1960. It is a children’s title—although Burnford has asserted that it was not meant for children exclusively. The novel began to enjoy cultural prominence when it was adapted into a Disney film in 1963. It was also re-made in a 1993 film.

Plot Summary

It is the beginning of an Indian summer in northwest Ontario at the outset of the story. The writer John Longridge has assumed care of the Hunter family’s beloved pets: the elderly bull terrier Bodger, the sassy Siamese cat Tao, and the young and ever-loyal golden labrador Luath. The Hunters are longtime friends of Longridge, who also is the Hunter children’s godfather. 12-year-old Peter has had Bodger since he was only a year old, and the two share an inimitable bond. Tao belongs to his younger sister Elizabeth, and Luath is James Hunter’s steadfast hunting companion. The Hunters have gone on a trip to England for a temporary academic job that James has accepted there. When Longridge heard that the family planned to board their beloved animals, he volunteered to care for them in their absence. He has been housing the animals in his Ontario forest cabin, which he occasionally lives in while completing his manuscripts.

Longridge also loves the Hunter animals very much. Bodger has warmed to him quite naturally, as being a companion to humans is the dog’s greatest love. Tao is aloof yet comfortable and occasionally affectionate with Longridge. Luath is respectful and well-mannered but saves all of his true loyalty for his master, James.

Longridge is good friends with his (long-distance) neighbors the Oakes. Mrs. Oakes sees to his domestic needs when he stays in his cabin. He has arranged for her to care for the animals while he embarks on a canoe hunting expedition. The night before his departure, he composes a two-page letter to Mrs. Oakes. In it, he tells her that he will be taking the animals out for a walk the next morning, and then bringing them back in afterwards, before he sets out on his journey. However, during the night, Tao runs across Longridge’s desk and upsets the letter—sending the second page into the fireplace, where all but Longridge’s signature is lost to the flames.

The next day, when Mrs. Oakes arrives, she finds only the first page of Longridge’s letter, which makes it ambiguously appear that he has taken the animals with him on his canoeing hunting trip. The animals are not in the house. Mrs. Oakes frets over this, as she was eager to spend time with Bodger, especially, and is a bit concerned about the practical elements of bringing them all on a canoeing expedition. She defers to what she believes is Longridge’s judgment.

Unbeknownst to all the humans, Luath has led his two companions on a journey westward and toward their home. The animals have naturally fallen into a formation that they will adopt for many hundreds of miles: Luath stays by Bodger’s left side, as the elder dog is deaf in his left ear, and Tao trails them while indulging his own curiosities along the trail.

The animals each tap into their ancestral instincts during their journey. Tao is the wildest in the trio—he is able to effortlessly hunt and progress through the forest fearlessly. Bodger has fighting instincts, but his advanced age renders him a fragile and fitful traveler. Luath is not a killer by nature, and has trouble catching prey, but it is his internal compass westward and homebound that leads the way.

The animals encounter a number of high-stakes difficulties during their journey. One day, a bear cub takes an interest in Bodger and slashes him across the back. Tao quickly comes to her friend’s aid, attacking the cub’s eyes with his razor-sharp claws. When Luath comes bounding onto the scene, the mother bear and her cub retreat.

On another occasion, Tao is overtaken by an avalanche of timber when a beaver dam collapses while he is trying to cross a river. The cat is knocked unconscious and almost drowns but is fortuitously rescued by a young Finnish girl named Helvi Nurmi. Water blocks up the cat’s ears and renders him deaf for three days. Helvi and her family nurse Tao back to health, and the cat regains his hearing before setting back out into the wilderness and re-joining his canine companions.

The three animals also happen upon an elderly man with a faltering grip on reality. He mistakes the animals for humans and tries to treat them to a meal in his cabin before seeing them out.

Luath also incurs the wrath of a porcupine that he unsuccessfully tries to hunt and is forced to continue the journey with three quills lodged in his face. The wounds quickly become infected and extremely painful.

Bodger and Luath are later taken in by a kindly couple named the Mackenzies. Empty nesters who live in the wilderness, they have had many family pets throughout the years and intimately know the deep bonds that can form between domestic pets and their human masters. When the ever-loving Bodger turns up on their doorstep, later followed by a more cautious Luath, they immediately take the animals in and begin inquiring in their township about the peculiar trio’s presence in the wilderness. They also see Luath’s failing health, extract the quills immediately, and feed him as much as possible. Although they are intent on keeping the dogs, they also can see that they are on a very purposeful and undeterrable journey. Tao never makes himself known to the Mackenzies. Instead, he unlocks the latch to the barn where the couple begins keeping the dogs. A after a few days, the animals have headed back out into the wilderness and on their way.

By now, word of mouth from the various people who have encountered the animal trio has spread, and Oakes and Longridge have cobbled together the pieces of the puzzle to determine that the animals are headed westward and toward their home. They have been able to speak via telephone to several of the people that the animals have encountered. They also assume that the animals are dead. By looking at a map, they are able to pinpoint the animals’ journey with good accuracy, and they also see that they are headed toward the treacherous Ironmouth Mountain Range—just as the Indian summer is ending and a cruel winter approaches.

A few weeks pass, and Longridge has informed the Hunters of the unfortunate turn of events with their pets. The Hunters have returned from their trip, each family member full of longing and anticipation for their reunion with their beloved pet. Elizabeth has even purchased a new red leather collar for Tao. The Hunters are heartbroken to learn the news, and as time goes on, Elizabeth becomes the lone holdout in the family—she is utterly convinced that the animals will return to them, safe and sound.

The Hunters and Longridge go on a trip to the Hunters’ summer cottage. Elizabeth is hesitant to go, as she worries that Tao and the others may return home while they are gone. Longridge shows her the map of the animals’ route and assures her that the Hunter summer cottage lies on it. This convinces Elizabeth to go, but Longridge is afraid that her determined optimism will soon be proven wrong. All of the humans are devastated by the loss of the animals, but they try their best to enjoy their trip. Peter is especially bereft, as he shares a deep bond with the dog he has treasured as his companion for his whole life. He is convinced that Bodger is dead.

Then, on the last August day of their trip and Peter’s birthday, while they are on a walk in the forest, Emily hears a dog barking. She listens closely and immediately identifies the bark as Luath’s. No one else believes her—until Tao comes bounding out of the forest. The overjoyed cat is enclosed in a warm embrace by Elizabeth. Soon enough, Luath also emerges from the forest for an emotional reunion with James.

Peter watches the scene quietly, and then tells everyone that he is going to circle back on the trail to try to capture a photograph of a whisky-jack. He is clearly saddened by Bodger’s absence. Longridge decides to join him in order to keep an eye on him. Then, Bodger emerges from the forest and reunites with his master. This is the greatest birthday present Peter has ever received. The story ends on an image of Longridge making his way down the trail. He is joined by Tao on his walk in the spirit of intimate friendship.