Just then

　　Just then, the little Gingerbread Boy came to a river.  He could not swim across, and he wanted to keep running away from the cow and the horse and the people.

　　"Jump on my tail, and I will take you across," said the fox.

　　So the little Gingerbread Boy jumped on the fox's tail, and the fox swam into the  river.  When he was a little way from shore he turned his head, and said, "You are too heavy on my tail, little Gingerbread Boy, I fear I shall let you get wet; jump on my back."

　　The little Gingerbread Boy jumped on his back.

　　A little farther out, the fox said, "I am afraid the water will cover you, there; jump on my shoulder."

　　The little Gingerbread Boy jumped on his shoulder.

　　In the middle of the stream the fox said, "Oh, dear! little Gingerbread Boy, my shoulder is sinking; jump on my nose, and I can hold you out of water."

　　So the little Gingerbread Boy jumped on his nose.

　　The minute the fox got on shore he threw back his head, and gave a snap!

　　"Dear me!" said the little Gingerbread Boy, "I am a quarter gone!"  The next minute he said, "Why, I am half gone!" The next minute he said, "My goodness gracious, I am three quarters gone!"

　　And after that, the little Gingerbread Boy never said anything more at all.