Today is Saturday.
Pet and Patty lifted their wet noses. They pricked their ears forward, looking at the creek; then they pricked them backward to hear what Pa would say. They sighed and laid their soft noses together to whisper to each other. A little way upstream, Jack was lapping the water with his red tongue. Pa said that he would tie down the wagon-cover. He climbed down from the seat, unrolled the canvas sides and tied them firmly to the wagon box. Then he pulled the rope at the back, so that the canvas puckered together in the middle, leaving only a tiny round hole, too small to see through. Mary huddled down on the bed. She did not like fords; she was afraid of rushing water. But Laura was excited; she liked the splashing. Pa climbed to the seat, saying that they might have to swim out there in the middle. He told Ma that they pull make it all right. Laura thought of Jack and said to Pa that she wished Jack could ride in the wagon. Pa did not answer. He gathered the reins tightly in his hands. Ma told Laura that Jack could swim and he would be all right. The wagon went forward softly in mud. Water began to splash against the wheels. The splashing grew louder. The wagon shook as the noisy water struck at it. Then all at once the wagon lifted and balanced and swayed. It was a lovely feeling. The noise stopped, and Ma said sharply to ask the girls to lie down.
