Boy Scouts on a Long Hike | Page 9

because, if
appearance went for anything the animal had a bad temper, and would
be apt 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 see
what would happen. Perhaps their hearts were beating just a little faster
than ordinary; but if so, that was not a circumstance to the way Fritz
felt his throbbing like a trip hammer, even while he kept steadily
moving ahead.
He started to utter what he meant to be soothing words, as he
approached the gentle bovine. He had heard farmers talking to their
cows when starting to do the milking act, and thought it the proper
caper. But Bossy must have finally made up her mind that this
trespasser had a suspicious look, and meant to carry off the little calf
that could now be heard calling away off beyond a rise where a farm
house and stable evidently lay.
Suddenly she lowered her head, and started toward Fritz. Frenzied
shouts arose 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!" cried
Jotham.
Fritz did not take the trouble to reply. He could hardly have done so
even 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 could
not have been more than thirty feet away. He was wise enough to

realize that should he attempt to make a wild dash for the fence
surrounding the field, the active four legged animal would be able to
overtake him before he could get half way there. And as the one way
left to him Fritz jumped to one side, in order to avoid contact with
those cruel-looking black horns.
His first act was one of impulse rather than anything else; he just
sprang to one side, and allowed the animal to go surging past, so close
that 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 spot
when that time came. And as there was no better opening offered than
the enclosure mentioned by Jotham, he started for the same, with the
cow in full pursuit, and his chums shrieking all sorts of weird advice.
So close was the angry animal behind him that at first Fritz could not
take the time to mount that fence. He chased around it, and as if
accepting the challenge, Bossy did the same, kicking her heels high in
the air, and with tail flying far in the rear.
Fritz managed to keep a pretty good distance ahead of his pursuer, and
as there did not seem to be any particular danger just then, some of the
boys allowed their feelings of hilarity to have full swing, so that peals
of riotous laughter floated to the indignant ears of the fugitive.
Indeed, Eben laughed so much that he lost his hold, and fell into the
meadow; but it was ludicrous to see how nimbly he clambered up again,
as though 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 a
coup. When he had gained a certain distance on the circling cow, so
that he would have time to scramble over the fence, he hastened to put
this scheme 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
though trying to cool off after his recent lively experience.
"Look at the old cow, would you?" burst out Eben, "she sees him now,
I tell you! Say, watch her try and jump that fence, to get closer
acquainted 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 a
furious dash forward. Eben had naturally imagined she meant to try and
follow Fritz over the fence but he was wrong. There was a terrific crash
as 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