Go ahead he would not.
"Judas priest!" exclaimed the driver.

"I do believe the critter's drowndin'! Somethin's wrong.

I've got to get out and see, I s'pose.

Set right where you be, ladies.

I'll be back in a minute," adding, as he took a lighted lantern from beneath the seat and pulled aside the heavy boot preparatory to alighting, "unless I get in over my head, which ain't so dummed unlikely as it sounds." Lantern in hand he clambered clumsily from beneath the boot and disappeared.