Boy Scouts on a Long Hike; Or, To the Rescue in the Black Water Swamps
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CHAPTER III
THE GENTLE COW
"Paul, how do we hold out for the third day on the hike?"
"Yes, and Paul, please let us know just how much further you expect tocoax the leg weary bunch on today? Not to say that I'm tired; but then Iknow Noodles, and another scout not far away right now, are gruntinglike fun every little rise in the road we come to," and Seth gave hishead a flirt in the quarter where Eben was anxiously gripping his bugle,as if in momentary expectation of getting a signal from the patrolleader to blow the call that would signify a halt.
"It's only four o'clock, fellows," began the acting scoutmaster.
Dismal groans sounded; but with a smile Paul went on to add:
"We've already made our twenty-five miles since sun-up, just this sideof Warwick; but it's a fine day, and I did hope we might hang on alittle while further, so as to cut down our last day's hike a few miles.It's always the hardest part of the whole thing, the finishing spurt.But of course, if any of you feel played out we can call it off rightnow."
Eben and Noodles braced themselves up at this, and tried to look asthough they had no calling acquaintance with such a thing as fatigue.
"Oh! I'm good for a couple more miles, I guess," declared the former.
"Make idt tree, undt you will see how I holdt oudt!" proudly boasted thestout boy, who spent half his time mopping his red face; for the day hadbeen a pretty warm one, so Noodles, who had to carry a third again asmuch weight as any of his companions, thought.
"Bully boy!" exclaimed impulsive Seth, "didn't I say they had the sandto do all we tried. You never would have believed Noodles here couldhave covered the ground he has. Scouting has been the making of him, asit will of any feller that cares to set his teeth together, and just tryreal hard."
"I suggest then," went on Paul, his face beaming with pleasure, "that wetake a little rest right here, say of half an hour; and then march alongagain for three miles, as near as we can guess. And if we do that,fellows, it leaves only twenty more for the last day."
"I reckon that silver trophy is as good as won," remarked Andy Mullane.
"Barring accidents; and you never can tell when something may happen,"added wise Seth.
"Then I hope it will be to you, and not to me," said Eben, who wasrubbing his shin at a place where he had bruised it earlier in the day.
"Have we got enough grub along to last out?" queried Fritz.
All eyes were turned toward Noodles, who generally looked after thispart of the business when they were abroad, either camping or tramping.
"I wouldn't say yes, if Fritz he puts der crimp in dot appetites offhis," was what the cook announced, gravely.
"Then we'll see to it that he gets no more than his regular ration afterthis," Paul declared, pretending to look severe.
"Huh! that makes me feel real bad right away, let me tell you, fellers,"Fritz remarked, touching his belt line with a rueful face. "However doyou think I can fill up all this space here with just one ration? It'sdifferent with some of the rest of the bunch; take Noodles for example,he hasn't got room for more'n half a ration. I speak for what he can'tmake way with."
"Say, there's a chance right now for you to fill up ahead of time!"exclaimed Eben, as he pointed through the fence; and looking, the scoutssaw a cow standing there, placidly chewing, her cud, and evidentlywatching them curiously as she attended strictly to business.
"Sure," Fritz went on to say, quickly, getting to his feet, "she's gotplenty of rations, quarts and quarts of fine rich milk. I've got half anotion to step in there, and see how it tastes. See here, if I tied anickel or a dime in a piece of paper, and attached it to her horn,wouldn't that be all right, Paul? Ain't scouts got a right to live offthe country as they hike through, 'specially if they pay for what theytake?"
"Well, if it was a case of necessity, now----" began the scoutmaster.
"It is," broke in Eben, who for some reason seemed to want to egg Fritzon, "our comrade's plumb near starved, you know, and we're talking ofcutting his grub allowance down to half. But I don't think he's got thenerve to fill up on nice rich fresh milk, that's what. Some people talkpretty loud, but when you pin 'em down, they say they didn't mean it."
Of course that finished Fritz. If he had been joking before, he now tookthe matter in a serious light.
"Huh! that remark don't hit me, Eben," he said, disdainfully, "If it wasa ferocious old bull I might hesitate about trespassing on his field,but a gentle cow, whoever knew one to act ugly? Here goes, after I'vetied up this nickel in a piece of paper, with a string to it, to fix iton Sukey's horn. Anybody else feel milk thirsty? Don't all speak at oncenow, because I'm first."
Apparently no one else was hankering after fresh milk just then; atleast none of the scouts gave any indication of meaning to accompany thebold invader.
"If you're really intending to go over the fence and try the milksupply," suggested Paul. "I'd advise you to leave that red neck scarfthat you're so proud of wearing, behind you, Fritz."
"Yes, that's so," broke in Seth, "cows, as well as bulls, don't fancyanything red, I've been told. Better leave it with me, Fritz."
"Huh, think I ain't on to your little game, Seth Carpenter," declaredthe other, making no move to take off the necktie in question, "don't Iknow that you've always wanted that scarf? Ain't you tried to buy it offme more'n a few times? Not much will I let you hold it. That tie staysby me. If the poor old cow don't like it, she can do the next bestthing. Now, watch me get my fill, fellers. Milk is the staff of life,more'n bread; and I always did like it fresh. Here goes."
He clambered up on the top of the fence, while all the other scoutswatched to see how the operation turned out.
"Take care, Fritz," warned Eben, solemnly, "she's got her eye on you,all right, and she's stopped chewing her cud too. P'raps she may turnout to be a hooker; you never can tell about cows. And chances are,she's got a calf up in the barn. You see, a cow is always ugly when shethinks they're agoin' to steal her calf away, like they did lots ofother times."
"Oh! rats!" sneered the valiant Fritz, drawing his staff over with him,so as to get a purchase on the ground within the field, and ease hisintended jump.
"Listen, Fritz," added Jotham, "see that little enclosure just back ofwhere she stands? Looks like it might have been fenced off to protectsome fruit trees or something. Well, if I was in your boots now, and shemade a jump for me, I'd tumble over that same fence in a hurry. A cow'sgot horns the same as a bull, and you'll be sorry if ever she tossesyou."
But Fritz had evidently made up his mind, and would not allow anythingto deter him. The more the other scouts threw out these hints thestronger became his determination to carry his clever scheme tocompletion. And when he said he was fond of fresh milk Fritz only toldthe truth; though the chances were he would never have accepted such arisk only for the badgering of Eben and Seth.
Using his long staff in a dexterous way he dropped lightly to theground, and immediately started to walk toward the spot where the cowstood.
She had raised her head a little, and appeared to be observing hiscoming with certain suspicious signs.
"Go slow, Fritz; she don't like your looks any too much!" warned Paul,who had climbed to the top of the rail fence, the better to see whathappened.
Perhaps Fritz himself may have felt a little qualm just about that time,for the actions of the cow were far from reassuring; but he was tooproud to show anything that seemed to savor of the "white feather"before his chums, especially after making all the boasts he had.
And so he kept grimly on, even if his knees did begin to knock togethera little, when he actually saw the cow suddenly lower her head, andthrow up the dirt with those ugly looking short horns, to one of whichhe had so recently declared he meant to secure the coin he would leave,to pay for all the milk he expected to consume.
Paul had called out once or twice, words of warning. He also suggestedthat it would be wise for the adventurous one to turn back; because, ifappearance went for anything t
he animal had a bad temper, and would beapt to give him more or less trouble.
But that had no effect on Fritz, who, having embarked on the venture,did not mean to back down until absolutely forced to do so.
And so the other five scouts, ranged along the fence, watched to seewhat would happen. Perhaps their hearts were beating just a littlefaster than ordinary; but if so, that was not a circumstance to the wayFritz felt his throbbing like a trip hammer, even while he kept steadilymoving ahead.
He started to utter what he meant to be soothing words, as he approachedthe gentle bovine. He had heard farmers talking to their cows whenstarting to do the milking act, and thought it the proper caper. ButBossy must have finally made up her mind that this trespasser had asuspicious look, and meant to carry off the little calf that could nowbe heard calling away off beyond a rise where a farm house and stableevidently lay.
Suddenly she lowered her head, and started toward Fritz. Frenzied shoutsarose from those who were watching the proceedings from a safe distance.
"Run, Fritz! she's coming!" bawled one.
"Remember the fence over there, Fritz, and what I told you!" criedJotham.
Fritz did not take the trouble to reply. He could hardly have done soeven had he so desired, for just then he was most actively employed.
At the time the cow made her abrupt plunge toward him the scout couldnot have been more than thirty feet away. He was wise enough to realizethat should he attempt to make a wild dash for the fence surrounding thefield, the active four legged animal would be able to overtake himbefore he could get half way there. And as the one way left to him Fritzjumped to one side, in order to avoid contact with those cruel-lookingblack horns.
His first act was one of impulse rather than anything else; he justsprang to one side, and allowed the animal to go surging past, so closethat he could have easily reached out his hand, and touched her flank,had he chosen to do so.
Of course she would quickly realize that her attack had been a failure,and recovering, turn again to renew it. He must not be on the same spotwhen that time came. And as there was no better opening offered than theenclosure mentioned by Jotham, he started for the same, with the cow infull pursuit, and his chums shrieking all sorts of weird advice.
So close was the angry animal behind him that at first Fritz could nottake the time to mount that fence. He chased around it, and as ifaccepting the challenge, Bossy did the same, kicking her heels high inthe air, and with tail flying far in the rear.
Fritz managed to keep a pretty good distance ahead of his pursuer, andas there did not seem to be any particular danger just then, some of theboys allowed their feelings of hilarity to have full swing, so thatpeals of riotous laughter floated to the indignant ears of thefugitive.
Indeed, Eben laughed so much that he lost his hold, and fell into themeadow; but it was ludicrous to see how nimbly he clambered up again, asthough fearful lest the cow take a sudden notion to dash that way,changing her tactics.
Meanwhile Fritz was laying his plans looking to what he would call acoup. When he had gained a certain distance on the circling cow, so thathe would have time to scramble over the fence, he hastened to put thisscheme into operation.
Fritz had dropped upon the ground, and was evidently panting for breath.At any rate, the boys, perched like a lot of crows on the distant fence,could see him waving his campaign hat rapidly to and fro, as thoughtrying to cool off after his recent lively experience.
"Look at the old cow, would you?" burst out Eben, "she sees him now, Itell you! Say, watch her try and jump that fence, to get closeracquainted with our chum. Oh! my stars! what d'ye think of that now;ain't she gone and done it though?"
While the bugler of Beverly Troop was speaking, the angry cow made afurious dash forward. Eben had naturally imagined she meant to try andfollow Fritz over the fence but he was wrong. There was a terrific crashas the head of the charging beast came in contact with the frail fence;and the next thing they knew the cow had thrown down an entire section,so that no longer did any barrier separate her from the object of herincreasing fury.