Except that Vigor didn't know there was no hope。 Vigor leapt out when the tree was no more than a rod away； his body failing against it just above the root。 The momentum of his leap turned it a little； then rolled it over； rolled it and turned it away from the wagon。 Of course Vigor rolled with it； pulled right under the water but it worked； the root end of the tree missed the wagon entirely； and the shaft of the trunk struck it a sidewise blow。
The tree bounded across the stream and smashed up against a boulder on the bank。 Alvin was five rods off； but in his memory from then on； he always saw it like as if he'd been right there。 The tree crashing into the boulder； and Vigor between them。 Just a split second that lasted a lifetime； Vigor's eyes wide with surprise； blood already leaping out of his mouth； spattering out onto the tree that killed him。 Then the Hatrack River swept the tree out into the current。 Vigor slipped under the water； all except his arm； all tangled in the roots； which stuck up into the air for all the world like a neighbor waving good…bye after a visit。
Alvin was so intent on watching his dying son that he didn't even notice what was happening to his own self。 The blow from the tree was enough to dislodge the mired wheels； and the current picked up the wagon； carried it downstream； Alvin clinging to the tailgate； Faith weeping inside； Eleanor screaming her lungs out from the driver's seat； and the boys on the bank shouting something。 Shouting； 〃Hold！ Hold！ Hold！〃
The rope held； one end tied to a strong tree； the other end tied to the wagon； it held。 The river couldn't tumble the wagon downstream； instead it swung the wagon in to shore the way a boy swings a rock on a string； and when it came to a shuddering stop it was right against the bank； the front end facing upstream。
〃It held！〃 cried the boys。
〃Thank God！〃 shouted Eleanor。
〃The baby's ing；〃 whispered Faith。
But Alvin； all he could hear was the single faint cry that had been the last sound from the throat of his firstborn son； all he could see was the way his boy clung to the tree as it rolled and rolled in the water； and all he could say was a single word； a single mand。 〃Live；〃 he murmured。 Vigor had always obeyed him before。 Hard worker； willing panion； more a friend or brother than a son。 But this time he knew his son would disobey。 Still he whispered it。 〃Live。〃
〃Are we safe？〃 said Faith； her voice trembling。
Alvin turned to face her； tried to strike the grief from his face。 No sense her knowing the price that Vigor paid to save her and the baby。 Time enough to learn of that after the baby was born。 〃Can you climb out of the wagon？〃
〃What's wrong？〃 asked Faith； looking at his face。
〃I took a fright。 Tree could have killed us。 Can you climb out； now that we're up against the bank？〃
Eleanor leaned in from the front of the wagon。 〃David and Calm are on the bank； they can help you up。 The rope's holding； Mama； but who can say how long？〃
〃Go on； Mother； just a step；〃 said Alvin。 〃We'll do better with the wagon if we know you're safe on shore。〃
〃The baby's ing；〃 said Faith。
〃Better on shore than here；〃 said Alvin sharply。 〃Go now。〃
Faith stood up； clambered awkwardly to the front。 Alvin climbed through the wagon behind her； to help her if she should stumble。 Even he could see how her belly had dropped。 The baby must be grabbing for air already。
On the bank it wasn't just David and Calm； now。 There were strangers； big men； and several horses。 Even one small wagon； and that was a wele sight。 Alvin had no notion who these men were； or how they knew to e and help； but there wasn't a moment to waste on introductions。 〃You men！ Is there a midwife in the road house？〃
〃Goody Guester does with birthing；〃 said a man。 A big man； with arms like ox…legs。 A blacksmith； surely。
〃Can you take my wife in that wagon？ There's not a moment to spare。〃 Alvin knew it was a shameful thing； for men to speak so openly of birthing； right in front of the woman who was set to bear。 But Faith was no fool she knew what mattered most； and getting her to a bed and a petent midwife was more important than pussyfooting around about it。
David and Calm were careful as they helped their mother toward the waiting wagon。 Faith was staggering with pain。 Women in labor shouldn't have to step from a wagon seat up onto a riverbank； that was sure。 Eleanor was right behind her； taking charge as if she wasn't younger than all the boys except the twins。 〃Measure！ Get the girls together。 They're riding in the wagon with us。 You too； Wastenot and Wantnot！ I know you can help the big boys but I need you to watch the girls while I'm with Mother。〃 Eleanor was never one to be trifled with； and the gravity of the situation was such that they didn't even call her Eleanor of Aquitaine as they obeyed。 Even the little girls mostly gave over their squabbling and got right on。
Eleanor paused a moment on the bank and looked back to where her father stood on the wagon seat。 She glanced downstream； then looked back at him。 Alvin understood the question； and he shook his head no。 Faith was not to know of Vigor's sacrifice。 Tears came unwele to Alvin's eyes； but not to Eleanor's。 Eleanor was only fourteen； but when she didn't want to cry； she didn't cry。
Wastenot hawed the horse and the little wagon lurched forward； Faith wincing as the girls patted her and the rain poured。 Faith's gaze was somber as a cow's； and as mindless； looking back at her husband； back at the river。 At times like birthing； Alvin thought； a woman bees a beast； slack…minded as her body takes over and does its work。 How else could she bear the pain？ As if the soul of the earth possessed her the way it owns the souls of animals； making her part of the life of the whole world； unhitching her from family； from husband； from all the reins of the human race； leading her into the valley of ripeness and harvest and reaping and bloody death。
〃She'll be safe now；〃 the blacksmith said。 〃And we have horses here to pull your wagon out。〃
〃It's slacking off；〃 said Measure。 〃The rain is less； and the current's not so strong。〃
〃As soon as your wife stepped ashore； it eased up；〃 said the farmer…looking feller。 〃The rain's dying； that's sure。〃
〃You took the worst of it in the water；〃 said the blacksmith。 〃But you're all right now。 Get hold of yourself； man； there's work to do。〃
Only then did Alvin e to himself enough to realize that he was crying。 Work to do； that's right； get hold of yourself； Alvin Miller。 You're no weakling； to bawl like a baby。 Other men have lost a dozen children and still live their lives。 You've had twelve； and Vigor lived to be a man； though he never did get to marry and have children of his own。 Maybe Alvin had to weep because Vigor died so nobly； maybe he cried because it was so sudden。
David touched the blacksmith's arm。 〃Leave him be for a minute；〃 he said softly。 〃Our oldest brother was carried off not ten minutes back。 He got tangled in a tree floating down。〃
〃It wasn't no tangle； 〃 Alvin said sharply。 〃He jumped that tree and saved our wagon； and your mother inside it！ That river paid him back； that's what it did； it punished him。〃
Calm spoke quietly to the local men。 〃It run him up against that boulder there。〃 They all looked。 There wasn't even a smear of blood on the rock； it seemed so innocent。
〃The Hatrack has a mean streak in it；〃 said the blacksmith； 〃but I never seen this river so riled up before。 I'm sorry about your boy。 There's a slow； flat place downstream where he's bound to fetch up。 Everything the river catches ends up there。 When the storm lets up； we can go down and bring back the bring him back。〃
Alvin wiped his eyes on his sleeve； but since his sleeve was soaking wet it didn't do much good。 〃Give me a minute more and I can pull my weight；〃 said Alvin。
They hitched two more horses and the four beasts had no trouble pulling the wagon out against the much weakened current。 By the time the wagon was set to rights again on the road； the sun was even breaking through。
〃Wouldn't you know；〃 said the blacksmith。 〃If you ever don't like the weather hereabouts； you just set a spell； cause it'll change。〃
〃Not this one；〃 said Alvin。 〃This storm was laid in wait for us。〃
The blacksmith put his arm across Alvin's shoulder and spoke real gentle。 〃No offense； mister； but that's crazy talk。〃
Alvin shrugged him off。 〃That storm and that river wanted us。〃
〃Papa；〃 said David； 〃you're tired and grieving。 Best be still till we get to the road house and see how Mama is。〃
〃My baby is a boy；〃 said Papa。 〃You'll see。 He would have been the seventh son of a seventh son。〃
That got their attention； right enough； that blacksmith and the other men as well。 Everybody knew a seventh son had certain gifts； but the seventh son of a seventh son was about as powerful a birth as you could have。
〃That makes a difference；〃 said the blacksmith。 〃He'd have been a born dowser； sure； and water hates that。〃 The others nodded sagely。
〃The water had its way；〃 said Alvin。 〃Had its way； and all done。 It would've killed Faith and the baby； if it could。 But since i