INSURGENT COWS 



sembled to get him out. The well is not really a 

 well, but a drinking place that has been fixed so 

 that the cattle can help themselves. There is a low 

 place in the woods where there is a quicksand bottom 

 about four feet from the surface and for many years 

 it has furnished an unfailing supply of water. Man}- 

 years ago a shallow well was scooped out from which 

 the cattle can drink at all times simply by having a 

 plank left off the top so that they can drink as from 

 a trough. As there is a pond nearby which sup- 

 plies them during the rest of the season they do not 

 use the well except when other supplies fail. This year 

 the other supplies failed completely and the drinking 

 well was fixed for them with scantlings nailed across 

 the opening a couple of feet apart. It was looked 

 upon as quite safe, but apparently when a yearling 

 steer ventures to go for a drink before his betters 

 he is likely to be taught a lesson. Mars must have 

 been down on his knees drinking when one of the big 

 cows came along and poked him right through. When 

 found he was not worrying a bit. He was standing 

 in about two feet of cold spring water contentedly 

 chewing his cud. He didn't seem to care whether 

 he was rescued or not. As the day was unusually 

 hot I could understand his feelings exactly. But for 



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