From the arrival at the Gillespie farm to the arrival
in Jefferson
Darl
After the wagon stops in front of a house, Darl suggests
to Dewey Dell that she go up to the door and ask to borrow a bucket
for water. Cash is slowly bleeding to death. Darl takes the bucket
that Dewey Dell acquires and begins mixing up cement for a cast
for Cash’s leg. Cash says he can last another day without it, but
they go ahead and pour the cement into the splints anyway. At that
moment, Jewel arrives at the wagon, and without a word climbs in.
Anse tells his children that with a hill approaching they will have
to get out of the wagon and ascend on foot.
Vardaman
Vardaman is walking up the hill with Darl, Dewey Dell,
and Jewel. Vardaman is still thinking about the buzzards. He wonders
where they go after sundown. He resolves to search for them that
night once the family has made camp at a nearby farm.
Darl
At the farm that evening, Darl helps set the coffin against
an apple tree. Because of the heat, Cash complains of pain in his
leg, which has begun to swell. They pour some water over it. Darl
repeatedly asks Jewel who his father was, but Jewel refuses to answer.
Vardaman
Vardaman and Darl go out by moonlight to the apple tree
where the coffin rests. Darl tells Vardaman that they can hear Addie
speaking to them, and Vardaman puts his ear to the coffin. They
return to the barn to check on Cash. Later, as Dewey Dell and Vardaman
prepare to go to sleep on the back porch, Anse, Darl, Jewel, and
the Gillespie boy, the son of the farmer who is hosting the Bundrens,
all move the coffin from under the apple tree to the barn. Vardaman
goes in search of the buzzards, and witnesses Darl setting fire
to the barn. He tells Dewey Dell his secret, and she tells him not
to say anything about it to anyone.
Darl
Darl runs with Jewel down to the barn, which is ablaze.
The others emerge from the house to witness the spectacle. Jewel
enters the inferno, making a furious attempt to free the horses
and mules from the burning barn. He then risks his life to save
the coffin.
Vardaman
Vardaman looks at the burned remains of the barn. The
coffin is carried back to the apple tree. The family goes inside
to attend to Cash, whose foot and leg have turned black as a result
of the confining cast. Anse makes an amateur attempt to break off
the cement cast. Jewel’s back goes red from burns sustained in the
fire, then black from the medicine that Dewey Dell gives him. Darl
remains outside by the apple tree, lying on top of the coffin and
weeping.
