But the Old Woman kept right on and paid no attention to the cow.
When the Soft-Voiced Cow had been dragged back upon the road for about a mile with the little party following her, the Soft-Voiced Cow turned her head to the Old Woman and said in her gentle way, “My dear lady, I must insist that you let go of my tail, for you are delaying our party! We wish to go in the opposite direction! And if you drag me three more steps, I shall have to raise my heels and upset you!”
At this, Gran’pa caught the Old Woman’s arm and said, “Why do you drag the Soft-Voiced Cow in this manner?”
The Old Woman stopped and gazed at Gran’pa for a moment, “Does this Cow belong to you?” she asked.
“Of course not!” Gran’pa replied.
“Does she belong to anyone in your party?” the Old Woman asked.
“Of course not!” Gran’pa replied.
“Then,” said the Old Woman, “in that case, the Cow does not belong to you nor anyone else that you know of, so she must be lost. And anything which is lost belongs to the one who finds it! Therefore, since I found the Cow she belongs to me, so I will take her home and make ox tail soup out of her!”
“Did you ever hear the like?” cried the Princess. “Do not let her take the Soft-Voiced Cow to make soup of!”
The Old Woman again began dragging the Soft-Voiced Cow down the road.