Betty and Babbie screamed in terror and scrambled back to the safe side of the fence; Madeline followed them more deliberately, and even Babe, the bold and fearless explorer of cow-pastures, finally climbed to the top of the fence, where she sat astride the highest board to await developments. The cow watched the retreat with interest and after a few minutes wandered idly off to the grassy spot where the rest of the herd were grazing.
“Come on,” said Babe encouragingly, when the cow’s back was safely turned. “She won’t come at us again, I’m sure. If she does, I’ll protect you. Hurry up, Madeline. We’ve got to find the castle and get back in time for the strawberry tartlets.”
So first Babe climbed down into the pasture, then Madeline crawled through the bars, with Babe after her and Betty bringing up the rear. But no sooner had Betty pushed safely through than the old black cow turned her head, discovered what had happened, and charged as fiercely as before.
“Oh, dear,” sighed Babe, from her perch on the fence, “she wouldn’t really hurt us, I’m sure of it. She’s just curious about us. Cows are awfully curious animals.”
“She shows her curiosity in a very peculiar way,” declared Babbie. “She doesn’t want us in her pasture—that’s very evident.”
“Being a loyal Scotch cow, she objects to an American invasion,” laughed Madeline. “See her eating away as calmly as if we didn’t exist. Let’s be awfully quiet getting through this time and perhaps we can cut across a corner of the pasture before she discovers us.”
But they couldn’t. This time Betty was the first one to follow the intrepid Babe into the enemy’s country, and as soon as her head appeared between the bars the old cow stopped eating and came toward her. Then Babe had an idea.
“It’s your red cap, Betty,” she cried. “Hide it and see what happens.”
In nervous haste Betty pulled out her hatpins and tucked the scarlet tam-o’-shanter out of sight under her white sweater. Whereupon the black cow lowed amiably and turned her head to nip a tempting tuft of clover.
“Well, so that was what she wanted,” said Babbie indignantly. “I supposed it was all a myth about cows chasing red, didn’t you, Babe?”