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their pipes. But Marigold and Petunia could not find a comfortable place to sit. They could not get back in the coach until it was upright, and it could not be upright until the driver had repaired the wheel. So they began to argue with each other.
    â€œWhen we get back in the coach, I get to sit by the tiger man,” Emily heard Marigold say. “You’ve been sitting by him ever since we woke up this morning. I saw him first, remember.”
    â€œWhat does it matter?” said Petunia. “That perfume you wear could knock an elephant over.”
    â€œWhat?” said Marigold. “Why, those silly flowers on top of your bonnet poke his cheek whenever you turn your head.”
    â€œReally!” said Petunia. “And who gave me this bonnet, may I ask?”
    â€œBetter to smell my perfume than smell your feet. Really, Petunia, you should keep your boots on in the carriage.”
    Emily and Jackson watched as the sisters turned their backs on each other, noses in the air. But the heat soon overtook the women and they began complaining about other things. They even complained about a herd of buffalo grazing not far away.
    â€œThat is surely the ugliest animal on the face of the earth,” said Marigold.
    â€œAn animal that ugly should never have been born,” agreed Petunia.
    One of the buffalo moved toward the coach as it munched, a cloud of insects swarming above its huge furry hump.
    â€œGet out of here, you ugly thing, you!” shouted Marigold.
    â€œLeave it be,” the driver called, trying to fit the repaired wheel back in place. “It’s not doing you no harm.”
    â€œWell, it’s smelly,” said Petunia. “I can smell it from here. Probably has fleas and every kind of liceknown to man.” She picked up a stone and threw it at the animal. It studied her with its enormous eyes, then went on eating.
    â€œLeave it be, I said,” called the driver. “I’ll have this wheel back on in a little while.”
    But Marigold picked up an even bigger stone and hurled it at the buffalo. It struck him on the nose. “Shooo!” she yelled. “Get!”
    And suddenly, the buffalo lowered its head and charged.
    Emily gasped as the big animal barreled toward the two sisters and knocked them down. Then it charged the driver, who dived behind the carriage. The buffalo turned around in circles, pawing the ground, and all Emily knew then was that her legs were moving, her feet were hitting the ground, and she and Jackson were running like the wind.
    She had no trouble keeping up with him this time. Emily had never known she could run so fast. She ran so fast she couldn’t think. All she knew was that she still had Rufus and his little box deep in one trouser pocket.
    When Jackson told her at last that the buffalo had gone back to the herd, Emily collapsed to the ground and sat catching her breath while she and Jackson watched the uproar back by the stagecoach, and the scolding the two grown sisters got from the driver.
    Fortunately, neither Marigold nor Petunia was seriously hurt. Their bonnets had been crushed and their clothes trampled, but at last the carriage was upright, the trunks and boxes were back in place, and everyone climbed aboard.
    But inside the coach, passengers sniped at each other as the stagecoach took off again. Oscar and Angus called the two sisters insane; Marigold and Petunia said that the men’s chewing tobacco made them sick; Uncle Victor told them all to quiet down, that he had some thinking to do; and Marigold patted his hand and said she would be as quiet as a little mouse sitting beside such a big handsome tiger man. Mr. Mortimer Muffit on the bench beside Emily and Jackson didn’t seem to be quite himself, his beard awry, whiskers going in every direction.
    â€œAre you all right?” Jackson asked him.
    â€œEh?” he said.
    â€œAre you hurt?” Jackson asked.
    The elderly man shook his head.