The goosey-gander stood in the doorway and looked into the cow shed.
"There's not a soul in here," he said. "Come along, Dunfin, and you shall see the goose pen. Don't be afraid; there's no danger."
Forthwith the goosey-gander, Dunfin, and all six goslings waddled into the goose pen, to have a look at the elegance and comfort in which the big white gander had lived before he joined the wild geese.
"This is the way it used to be: here was my place and over there was the trough, which was always filled with oats and water," explained the goosey-gander.
"Wait! there's some fodder in it now." With that he rushed to the trough and began to gobble up the oats.
But Dunfin was nervous.
"Let's go out again!" she said.
"Only two more grains," insisted the goosey-gander. The next second he let out a shriek and ran for the door, but it was too late! The door slammed, the mistress stood without and bolted it. They were locked in!
The father had removed a sharp piece of iron from the horse's hoof and stood contentedly stroking the animal when the mother came running into the stable.
"Come, father, and see the capture I've made!"