"Is there anywhere we can go to get out of her way?" asked Peter.
"I'm afraid not, unless you can climb the hedge. Try—I'll help you!"
"You'd better look out for yourself, Tom!"
"No, no! This way! Come!"
The cow, still pursued by the drovers and the sheep-dogs, had rushed past the caravan. Tom succeeded in dragging his companion part way up the hedge, and was hoping the infuriated animal would pass them by, when Bounce and Tim suddenly dashed to meet her, barking. She lowered her head to charge them, but, at that minute, Peter slipped and fell into the hedgerow, thus drawing her attention to him. He did not himself realise to the full the danger of his position; but Tom, of course, did, and took immediate action. Tearing off his coat, he sprang into the road, and, as the cow was making for Peter, flung it, with sure aim, over her face and horns.
[CHAPTER IX]
"UNA AND THE LION"
"YOUR being so quick-witted saved him, sir; she'd have gored him to death—or, at any rate, injured him seriously, but for you!"
The speaker was Moses Lee, who had left his horse's head and run forward to the assistance of the boys when he had realised the peril of their position. It had taken the cow barely a minute to free her head from Tom's coat, but by that time the gipsy had been at hand, and by cracking his whip had driven her on. Now, cow, sheep-dogs, and drovers were all once more out of sight, and Moses was addressing Tom, who had picked a hazel-stick and was trying to catch Tim in order to chastise him, whilst Peter, who had risen to his feet, was standing, white, trembling, and bewildered, beside the hedge from which he had fallen. Bounce crouched close beside him, conscious that he was in disgrace.
"It's no good, sir," Moses continued, as Tim, having allowed his master to come close to him, tucked his tail between his legs and slunk guiltily away; "he's not going to let you catch him—not he! Look at his manner. He knows he's done wrong and has offended you. Poor little beast! He was no more to blame than the other dog. I saw how it was—what with the cow bellowing, and the sheep-dogs barking, and the drovers shouting they both lost their heads for once in a way."