But, finally Raggedy could sit up, for the old hen had quit pulling her, and as her shoe-button eyes were very good, she soon made out the shape of the old hen in front of her.
"My! that's the hardest work I have done in a long time!" said the old hen, when she could catch her breath. "I was afraid Mr. Rooster would tear your dress and apron!"
"That was a queer game he was playing, Mrs. Hen," said Raggedy Ann.
The old hen chuckled 'way down in her throat, "Gracious me! He wasn't playing a game, he was fighting you!"
"Fighting!" cried Raggedy Ann in surprise.
"Oh yes, indeed!" the old hen answered, "Old Ironsides, the rooster, thought you intended to harm some of the children chickens and he was fighting you!"
"I am sorry that I fell inside the pen, I wouldn't harm anything," Raggedy Ann said.
"If we tell you a secret you must promise not to tell your mistress!" said the old hens.
"I promise! Cross my candy heart!" said Raggedy Ann.
Then the two old hens took Raggedy Ann 'way back in the farthest corner of the chicken coop. There, in back of a box, they had built two nests and each old hen had ten eggs in her nest.