“NEXT CAME TWO OLD WOMEN, AND BETWEEN THEM THEY LED A COW.”
Every one applauded his decision, and Bud also thought with satisfaction that he had hit upon a good way out of the difficulty.
Next came two old women, one very fat and the other very thin; and between them they led a cow, the fat woman having a rope around one horn and the thin woman a rope around the other horn. Each woman claimed she owned the cow, and they quarreled so loudly and so long that the lord high executioner had to tie a bandage over their mouths. When peace was thus restored the high counselor said:
“Now, your Majesty, please decide which of these two women owns the cow.”
“I can’t,” said Bud, helplessly.
“Oh, your Majesty, but you must!” cried all the five high counselors.
Then Meg whispered to the king again, and the boy nodded. The children had always lived in a little village where there were plenty of cows, and the girl thought she knew a way to decide which of the claimants owned this animal.
“Send one of the women away,” said Bud. So they led the lean woman to a little room near by and locked her in.
“Bring a pail and a milking-stool,” ordered the king.