The rope flew out of their hands, and the cow went
careering down the track with the rope dangling wildly after her,
while the other cow, fired by her example, came bawling after.
When they found grass by the roadside they became reasonable at
once. Mother Meraut then took charge of them, and, as Kathleen
remarked, "that ended the first movement." The second began when
the goats were unloaded. Mademoiselle took no chances with them.
She got the agent to put ropes on them in the first place, and
Kathleen and Louise, cautiously advancing to the plank, held up
propitiatory offerings of grass.
"That 's right," laughed Mademoiselle, "leading citizens with
bouquets! Perhaps a speech of welcome might help. They aren't the
first old goats to be received that way."
"Hush!" implored Louise. "My knees are knocking together so I can
hardly stand up now, and suppose they should butt!"
"In the words of the immortal bard 'butt me no butts,'" murmured
Kathleen, as they reached the gang-plank.
The agent, having attached the rope and released the goats from
their moorings, stood back and gave them full access to the open
door, holding the other end of the rope firmly in his hands. "You
can take the ropes when they are safely down the plank," he cried
gallantly. "They need a man to handle them."
"Oh, thank you," said Kathleen and Louise with one voice.
The goats accepted the suggestion of the open door at once and
galloped down the gang-plank with such reckless speed that the
agent lost his footing and came coasting down after them.
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