“Cal-kerlated I’d ketch yer here,” he puffed. “I’m glad you kep’ that pesky Hercules from doin’ any harm. Had him tied up and can’t figure how in Sam Hill he got erway.”
He handed the coat to Rob, explaining that the bull had caught it in some brambles and shaken it off.
“I hope he is safely tied up now,” said Helen Hunt. “I thought every minute the dreadful creature would toss me on his horns.”
“The men hev got him up ter ther barn,” Jeffords assured her. “I’ll hitch him with er chain this time, you kin bet yer boots.”
Soon after the two parties separated, the girls hastening toward Hampton and the boys walking off with Farmer Jeffords, as he was going in their direction a short distance.
“What nice boys,” said Helen, as she and May Harding walked along. “Not a bit like what our brothers told us about them.”
“I told you when they were pointed out to us at the post office last night that they couldn’t be as mean as Freeman and Dale tried to make out,” responded Helen. “They are awfully brave, too.”
“I hope we’ll get to know them better,” went on Dale Harding’s sister.
“If it depends on our brothers we won’t,” Helen Hunt assured her.
In the meantime, the boys had parted from Farmer Jeffords.