Suddenly the bull gave a bellow, and with one great bound, jumped into the river. Another moment, and everyone of the four and twenty cows had followed him over the edge.
The ferry was just about half-way across.
"Turn back! Turn back!" screamed the Moravian drovers, as the cattle swam straight towards the bank they had left. They wanted the ferry-boat to return instantly, that they might go after their beasts.
"The devil a bit of turning back!" shrieked the market folk. "We must cross! We are late enough for the fair as it is!"
"No need to howl, lads," said the herdsman, with exceeding calm. "I'll bring them to their right minds."
He jumped on his horse, led it along to the end of the ferry, and sticking spurs into its sides, leapt over the rail into the water.
"See, the cowherd will overtake them, no fear!" So the cobbler assured the despairing drovers.
But the horse-cooper, left behind on the bank, for he had not managed to find room for his horses on board, nor had wished to frighten them among so many cattle, was of a contrary opinion.
"You'll never see more of that herd!" he yelled to the travellers on the ferry-boat. "You may whistle for them!"
"There goes that Jonah again! Where is there a ham bone to shoot him with?" stormed the cobbler.