Catch Her, Darl — As I Lay Dying

Catch her Darl catch her, Vardaman hollering, and the chapter never stops to breathe. Cash tried but she fell off and Darl went under and everyone is shouting at once. Dewey Dell yells Vardaman at him while Vernon passes running toward the water where the coffin comes up and jumps in again before Darl has caught her.

In the water she could go faster than a man, the boy thinks, so only Darl the best grabbler can chase ma who slips like a fish even with mules diving up stiff-legged and rolling down again in the way. Vernon would grabble too, Vardaman knows, but he will not get in. When Darl seems to have her under the water, coming slow toward the bank, Vardaman runs in hollering it was all right now, it was all right now, it was all right, because Darl is strong and steady and will not let go even if she fights to stay under.

Then Darl rises slow and his hands come empty out of the water emptying away. Where is ma, Vardaman asks. You never got her. You knew she is a fish but you let her get away. He runs along the bank saying Darl, Darl, Darl while mules dive up slow and go down again. Will Vernon tell Cora that Darl alone had sense to jump, or that the river took what no grabbler could hold?