Chapter 4 Summary

Alvin Miller is trying to safely get his family across the Hatrack River in chapter four. Alvin's sons attempt to push and pull the wagon and horses across the river with their mom inside. Eleanor, Alvin's oldest daughter, is trying to get the horses to move as well and get the wagon across quicker. Meanwhile, Alvin carries all his daughters across the river to safety. Alvin's wife, Faith refuses to leave the wagon, so they tie the wagon to a tree on the other side of the river and unhitch the horses.

Just as the family is making progress, the river gets extremely turbulent and starts to rock the wagon and causes the wheels to sink further into the muck. Measure notices a huge tree heading for the wagon and screams a warning. Vigor throws himself into the water at the tree, which...