The Story of the Treasure Seekers · Character

Dicky Bastable

The practical Bastable brother who is good at sums, bringing arithmetic and resourcefulness to schemes that Oswald's imagination has already launched.

major

Also known as Dicky, So Dicky

First appearance: The Story of the Treasure Seekers

As a major figure in The Story of the Treasure Seekers, Dicky Bastable is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

One of the brothers, participates in the schemes.

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Dicky sits third in the Bastable line, just after Oswald, and is distinguished chiefly by being good at sums — a useful counterweight to his brother's Latin-prize rhetoric. Where Oswald dreams of fallen houses and ancestral fortunes, Dicky is the one who can actually count the coins and reckon the odds. His level-headedness keeps the treasure hunts from drifting entirely into fantasy, and his quiet competence makes him an essential ally in the family's shared project.

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Character Web

20 connections

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Relationship types

Family
Other

Character groups

Bastable Family Circle
Protagonist

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Closing

This moment is the story's dramatic climax because it represents the peak of the children's anxiety and desper…

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Relationships

Oswald Bastable
family · positive
Dicky and Oswald are brothers who often collaborate in the children's treasure-seeking… How this plays out →
H. O. Bastable
family · positive
Alice Bastable
family · positive
Dora Bastable
family · positive
H. O. Bastable
family · positive
Alice Bastable
family · positive
Oswald Bastable
family · positive
Dicky and Oswald are brothers who often collaborate in the children's treasure-seeking… How this plays out →
Oswald Bastable
family · positive
Dicky and Oswald are brothers who often collaborate in the children's treasure-seeking… How this plays out →
Alice Bastable
family · positive
H. O. Bastable
family · positive
Dora Bastable
family · positive
Dora Bastable
family · positive

Oswald Bastable
Dicky and Oswald are brothers who often collaborate in the children's treasure-seeking adventures.
H. O. Bastable
Dicky and H. O. are brothers, with Dicky often teasing or looking after the younger H. O.
Alice Bastable
Alice and Dicky are siblings who share a close bond and often team up in schemes.
Dora Bastable
Dicky and Dora are siblings, with Dora often scolding or guiding Dicky in his more reckless moments.
H. O. Bastable
Dicky and H. O. are brothers, with Dicky often teasing or looking after the younger H. O.
Alice Bastable
Alice and Dicky are siblings who share a close bond and often team up in schemes.
Oswald Bastable
Dicky and Oswald are brothers who often collaborate in the children's treasure-seeking adventures.
Oswald Bastable
Dicky and Oswald are brothers who often collaborate in the children's treasure-seeking adventures.
Alice Bastable
Alice and Dicky are siblings who share a close bond and often team up in schemes.
H. O. Bastable
Dicky and H. O. are brothers, with Dicky often teasing or looking after the younger H. O.
Dora Bastable
Dicky and Dora are siblings, with Dora often scolding or guiding Dicky in his more reckless moments.
Dora Bastable
Dicky and Dora are siblings, with Dora often scolding or guiding Dicky in his more reckless moments.

Relationship notes

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In the story

Dicky Bastable appears across 14 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

The Story of the Treasure Seekers
One of the brothers, participates in the schemes.
The Council of Ways and Means
Good at sums, secretive about his ideas, and wants everything settled exactly.
II: Digging for Treasure
Climbs the wall to fetch Albert-next-door's uncle after the tunnel collapse.
Being Detectives
Eager to be a detective; suggests looking for clues in newspapers and participates in the spying.
Good Hunting
Questions the poetry plan; thinks practically about payment for poems.
VI: Noël’s Princess
Participates in the hunt and games; counts the princess's names.
Being Editors
Contributes a serial story chapter and scientific column; writes 'Sam Redfern, or the Bushranger’s Burial'.
The G.B.
Dicky finds the advertisement for the Generous Benefactor and proposes borrowing money; he interacts directly with the G.B. and accepts the loan of fifteen shillings.
X: Lord Tottenham
Participates in the scheme and explains to Lord Tottenham that the children are teetotallers.
Castilian Amoroso
Proposes the scheme to sell Castilian Amoroso and writes the letter to order the sample.
XII: The Nobleness of Oswald
Remembers an unfinished idea about treasure-seeking; suggests a council of war.
The Robber and the Burglar
Volunteers to go downstairs with Oswald; helps rattle tongs and shovel to intimidate the burglar.
XV: “Lo, the Poor Indian!”
Worries about the silver spoons and kicks Oswald under the table during the awkward dinner.
The End of the Treasure-Seeking
Threatens to run away to sea due to boredom; later wants to go into Father's business.

Chapter companion notes

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