Who initiates the pursuit of Chaney?

• A. Mattie initiates the pursuit.
• B. Chaney initiates the pursuit.
• C. Rooster Cogburn initiates the pursuit.
• D. An unnamed posse initiates the pursuit.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is who takes the first active step to chase Chaney. Mattie acts first and deliberately sets the plan in motion by seeking out a U.S. marshal and offering to fund the pursuit to bring Chaney to justice. That decision to hire help and organize the chase is what initiates the pursuit itself. Rooster Cogburn joins because he is hired by Mattie, and LaBoeuf joins as an ally after the arrangement is made. Chaney doesn’t start the pursuit, and it isn’t an unnamed posse forming on its own. So the pursuit is initiated by Mattie’s decisive action to pursue Chaney.