The girls chose a shady spot quite close to the pig pen, and here Sam was told to bring Sue. The bright new pans attracted the curious attention of the three little pigs, and the large brown beast which now came across the barn yard made them tremble with apprehension, for they had never remembered seeing such a big creature before.
Sue followed Sam until she reached a given point and then she balked. For no apparent reason whatever, she refused to budge. She was standing in the sunshine with no nearby shade where the girls could stand while watching the process of milking.
All Sam’s coaxings and threats failed to move Sue one step. There she stood, blank-eyed and calmly chewing her cud, but with no intention of being moved. Sam pulled, and he pulled, then he went behind and pushed with might and main. Suddenly, without warning, Sue kicked out with a left hind heel and Sam caught the hoof in his stomach. It doubled him up on the ground so that in holding himself with both hands he let go the leading rope that was tied to the cow’s head.
Sue seemed to think she had accomplished the purpose for which she had balked, and now she scampered across the barn yard and turned to face her corporate owners. Her tail switched nervously against the frail fence of the pig pen, and her rear heels acted as if they stood on red coals—they twitched and jumped in turn.
Sam was helped to his feet again by Rachel and Mrs. James but he entertained no resentment against Sue. He merely remarked: “Dat’s the way wid cows!”
He chirped sweetly to Sue and held out his hand as if to assure her that he held a feast in his palm. In this manner he again approached the cow. But he was facing her this time, and his courage rose accordingly. He knew she could not kick with her forefeet, and before she could wheel to lift her hind foot again he could get out of the way.
Sue watched with lowered head as Sam came up to her and then with a fearful kick of the hind feet she jumped and ran back to the barn. But she left dire results of that kick against the fence of the pig pen. A large break gaped at the girls, but they failed to see it then, as their entire powers of concentration were centered in events about to transpire at the barn.
Sam hurried after Sue and the girls hurried after Sam, leaving the three curious pigs to follow their own sweet wills. Just as Sam came forth again, leading Sue after him, the pigs crept out of the break in the fence and stood watching this new approach.
This time the cow did not balk about walking over to the shady place, because Janet held the pail of tempting breakfast right under her nose and she followed after. But the pigs ran in different directions to prevent a wholesale capture by their owners.
Sam was walking backwards while leading Sue, to give himself ample time to escape if she ran for him, so he did not see a pig running blindly toward him. The shouts and shrill warnings of the girls came too late! The pig went head first into Sam’s legs and toppled him over backward. This gave the leading rope a sudden yank that Sue resented.