“Oh, a cow! A cow! Is it morning an’ did the cow come to bring us milk?”
“Well, not exactly; though it looks that way,” said Mr. Martin, with another laugh. “Was it this cow that frightened you, Teddy?”
“Yes, sir, I—I guess so,” replied the lad. “I felt something poke me in the ribs, and I woke up, and then the tent side sort of flew open and this big head came poking in and I didn’t know what it was, so I rolled off my cot on the other side.”
“Which was a wise thing to do, seeing that you couldn’t very well tell in the dark what was after you,” said his mother.
“It might have been a bear,” said Janet. “I’m glad it wasn’t.”
“So am I,” added Mrs. Martin.
“Would a bear eat peanuts like a nellifunt?” Trouble wanted to know.
“I guess a bear will eat almost anything,” said Mr. Martin, as he slipped on his shoes. “I think I’d better go out and tie this wandering cow to a tree,” he said. “Or else she’ll be back just as soon as we get to sleep, bothering us again. For that’s what she is—a wandering cow. She was probably tethered out for the night and broke loose. She must have come to pay us a visit.”
“Well, some fresh milk for the morning coffee would be very welcome,” remarked Mrs. Martin. “But I’m not going to milk a cow in the middle of the night. Fasten her well, Dick, so she won’t get loose again.”
“I will,” answered Mr. Martin.