320 Next to the Ground 



plenty rich enough for drinking, either by 

 children or calves. 



There were thickets round about the old 

 field of the apple trees and skirting woods 

 beyond. That made it a favorite place for 

 cows to drop and hide their calves. They 

 stole away from the herd to some sequestered 

 spot, were invisible for twenty-four hours, 

 then came pacing back to graze with the 

 rest. Since wild hogs sometimes came into 

 the woods, it was the part of wisdom to hunt 

 the calves and bring them home as soon as 

 possible. Joe and Patsy nearly always went 

 with Black Mammy upon such expeditions. 

 They also rode out to drive up the cows 

 whenever they got in the way of coming late 

 to the pen. Pipe-Stem and Light-Foot both 

 knew how to drive cattle without hurting 

 them, and enjoyed the wheeling, the twisting, 

 the gallops to head the herd ofF, just a little 

 bit more than even their riders. But the calf 

 hunting was done afoot, with Watch for 

 guide, philosopher, and friend. 



Watch could easily have smelled out the 

 little hidden beast, but there was no need for 

 it. The minute the cow caught sight of the 

 big dog, she charged down upon him with 

 lowered horn and angry pufFs of breath. If 

 she had mooed, a low peculiar moo, every 

 hoof and horn within hearing would have 



