Boy Scouts on a Long Hike | Page 8

starved, you know, and we're talking of
cutting his grub allowance down to half. But I don't think he's got the
nerve to fill up on nice rich fresh milk, that's what. Some people talk
pretty 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 took

the matter in a serious light.
"Huh! that remark don't hit me, Eben," he said, disdainfully, "If it was a
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've tied up
this nickel in a piece of paper, with a string to it, to fix it on Sukey's
horn. Anybody else feel milk thirsty? Don't all speak at once now,
because I'm first."
Apparently no one else was hankering after fresh milk just then; at least
none of the scouts gave any indication of meaning to accompany the
bold invader.
"If you're really intending to go over the fence and try the milk supply,"
suggested Paul. "I'd advise you to leave that red neck scarf that you're
so proud of wearing, behind you, Fritz."
"Yes, that's so," broke in Seth, "cows, as well as bulls, don't fancy
anything red, I've been told. Better leave it with me, Fritz."
"Huh, think I ain't on to your little game, Seth Carpenter," declared the
other, making no move to take off the necktie in question, "don't I
know that you've always wanted that scarf? Ain't you tried to buy it off
me more'n a few times? Not much will I let you hold it. That tie stays
by me. If the poor old cow don't like it, she can do the next best thing.
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 scouts
watched 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 turn
out 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 she
thinks they're agoin' to steal her calf away, like they did lots of other
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 his
intended jump.
"Listen, Fritz," added Jotham, "see that little enclosure just back of
where she stands? Looks like it might have been fenced off to protect
some fruit trees or something. Well, if I was in your boots now, and she
made a jump for me, I'd tumble over that same fence in a hurry. A
cow's got horns the same as a bull, and you'll be sorry if ever she tosses
you."
But Fritz had evidently made up his mind, and would not allow
anything to deter him. The more the other scouts threw out these hints
the stronger became his determination to carry his clever scheme to
completion. And when he said he was fond of fresh milk Fritz only told
the truth; though the chances were he would never have accepted such
a risk only for the badgering of Eben and Seth.
Using his long staff in a dexterous way he dropped lightly to the
ground, and immediately started to walk toward the spot where the cow
stood.
She had raised her head a little, and appeared to be observing his
coming 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 what
happened.
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 too
proud 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 together
a little, when he actually saw the cow suddenly lower her head, and
throw up the dirt with those ugly looking short horns, to one of which
he 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 suggested
that it would be wise for the adventurous one to turn back;