Buddy drew in his breath and held it until the wagon rolled on four wheels instead of two, but he did not scream.
Still the big river did not come.

It seemed to Buddy that the cattle would never stop running.

Tangled in the terror was Ezra's shouting as he ran alongside the wagon and called to Missy that it was "Dat ole Crumpy actin' the fool", and that the wagon wouldn't upset.

"No'm, dey's jest in a hurry to git dere fool haids sunk to de eyes in dat watah.

Dey ain't aimin' to run away--no'm, dish yer ain't no stampede!" Perhaps Buddy dozed.