The hunchback's first care, after opening the house, was to visit the barn to assure himself old crumple-horn had been well taken care of; but he could not gain much information in the darkness.
The animal was lying in her stall, and appeared to be in good condition.
Notwithstanding the fact that the house had been closed four days, the search for burglars was made before retiring, and then Jack, after seeing Louis tucked snugly in Aunt Nancy's bed, went to his cosey little room feeling confident he would never again have any desire to attend another camp meeting.
When the morning came he went out with a light heart to milk the cow, but to his great surprise still found her lying down.
All in vain did he urge her to get up; she refused to move, nor would she pay any attention to the tempting lunch of sweet clover he placed in front of her.
Running back to the house he summoned Aunt Nancy, and both spent fully an hour alternately coaxing and petting the animal.
"She is very sick, Jack dear, there can be no question about that," the little woman said as her eyes filled with tears. "It would grieve me if she should die, for I have owned her a long while."
"How many years?"
"I hardly know; but it can't be less than eighteen."
"Then she must be dying of old age."