This phrase is referring to the anthology stories ''The People Could Fly'' that is written by Virginia Hamilton. The phrase ''Wet he hoof'' is used in one of the stories and it means ''To get his foot wet'' when the author is describing the setting with Bruh Deer and Bruh Alligator.
Bruh Deer is trying to cross the river and when he sees Bruh Alligator, he does not want to go into the water, he does not want to ''wet he hoof'' or ''get his foot wet''
