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The Young Berringtons: The Boy Explorers, a novel by William H. G. Kingston |
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Chapter 3. Early Rising... |
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_ CHAPTER THREE. EARLY RISING--MILKING COWS--HOW TO "BAIL-UP" A COW--VICIOUS ANIMALS-- HECTOR CHARGED, AND TAKES TO FLIGHT--REGINALD AND HIS PAIL UPSET BY A CALF--TRIES AGAIN, AND SUCCEEDS "Rouse up, you fellow, and come and learn how to milk cows!" exclaimed Harry, as, the second morning after the arrival of the party, he, just at the break of day, rushed into his cousin Hector's room. Hector had done nothing the previous day but sit, rod in hand, on the bank of the river, attempting to catch some fish. He now yawned and stretched himself. "It cannot be time to get up yet--it is scarcely daylight." "There's light enough to milk the cows, and the cool of the morning is the best time," answered Harry. "Your Aunt Emily and the rest of the girls are there already." "I'll get up presently, when I've had a little more sleep," said Hector, yawning again. "No, no; you've got to learn how to do it, and if you don't begin now, you never will. You must learn how to do everything, or you cannot become a prosperous settler. I'll not leave you until I see you up." Hector reluctantly, and in no good humour, began to dress. As he intended finishing his toilet after his return, he was soon ready. "Come along! Sandy, Paul, and Reginald are driving in the cows; though we have a few which won't come up to 'the bail,' as they will soon be taught to do; and it will be some fun to you to see how we manage things." "You don't expect me to milk cows?" said Hector, as they walked along. "Indeed I do, if you are to have milk for breakfast; it is what young hands like you and the girls are most suited for." "I am older than you are," exclaimed Hector, looking indignantly at Harry. "Older in years, but younger in this country. Why, my little brother Rob is of more use than you'll be for months to come, if you don't look sharp about it." "It's a horrid country, to say the best of it; I wish I hadn't come out here," exclaimed Hector. "It is my country," answered Harry, "and I'll not have it abused. It is as fine a country as any in the world, or finer, I believe." "You call that rocky range, which took us three days to get over, a fine country!" "Ah! that's nothing! you must take the rough with the smooth. I dare say there are quite as many rugged places in England." "From what I have seen of it, all I can say is, I intend to leave your beautiful country as soon as papa gets back some of his property. I hope to obtain a commission in the Guards." "You'd better try and get a commission in our Black-guards," answered Harry, laughing. "They are a very useful body of men, and most of their officers are gallant fellows." "Bosh!" cried Hector, who felt too indignant to make any other reply. He, nevertheless, accompanied Harry to the stock-yard, where they found Mary and Janet with their milk-pails, and their two elder cousins and Miss Saville. Within the yard into which the cattle were being driven, on one side, were two strong posts, about five feet high, with a cross-piece on the top and another at the bottom, with a strong rail between them, which could be moved from side to side and fixed by means of a peg. Just behind this, but outside the yard, was a windlass, with a rope passing between the two posts. "Do you see those posts?" asked Harry; "that's where we milk our cows." As he spoke he patted a cow on the back, and crying, "Bail-up!" she walked quickly up and put her head between the posts, where it was so secured by the rail that she could not withdraw it. Taking one of the pails, and seating himself on a stool close by, he commenced the operation, which, to Hector's intense astonishment, he performed in a thoroughly efficient manner. Other cows walked up without the slightest trouble, and were milked in the same way by his sisters. "Now, girls, you had better clear out of the yard!" shouted Paul; "we have two or three somewhat restive animals to deal with." Mary and Janet, whose pails were by this time full, followed their brother's advice, and, accompanied by Miss Saville and their cousins, made their way out of the yard; while Mr Hayward, who summoned Harry and Reginald to his assistance, stood ready at the windlass. Paul took hold of the rope, which was unwound, with a noose at the end of it fixed to a long stick, and approached one of the cows just before driven into the yard. Immediately he attempted to throw the noose over her head she swerved, now on one side, now on the other, taking care never to put her nose to the ground. At last, however, Paul succeeded in throwing the noose over her horns, when he drew it tight by a jerk. "Haul away!" he shouted; and round went the windlass, the cow, in the meantime, making every effort to free herself, leaping and bounding, throwing up her head and trying to shake off the rope. But all was in vain. Sandy sounded his stock whip at her flanks, now and then giving her a touch to remind her that it was at hand, until gradually she was drawn up to the posts and her head securely fixed, when Sandy approached with the milk-pail. "I'm not going to trust you yet, my lady," he said, fastening her hind-legs up on the side on which he was about to take his seat. This done, he began the operation of milking. He had almost drawn as much as he expected to obtain, when the cunning cow, finding that she could not kick over the pail, came down on her side; and Sandy, with difficulty, made his escape from under her with the loss of the contents of his pail. There were two other cows to be milked, which had been standing by watching attentively the treatment received by their companion. Paul, taking the rope, approached one of them. The creature seemed to have made up her mind not to be milked, and as he drew near she whisked round with wonderful rapidity, now and then making as if she would run at him; but Paul was far too active to be caught. Suddenly her eyes fell on Hector, who had been ashamed to leave the yard, although greatly longing to do so. Putting down her head, with a loud bellow she rushed towards him. "Run for it! Spring on one side, and then make a bolt for the palings. I'll help you over!" shouted Harry. Hector, however, was too much frightened to follow the advice. Instead of facing the cow and watching what she was about to do, he turned round and ran across the slippery yard; before he got far, as might have been expected, down he fell. The next instant the cow would have been upon him, had not Paul, who had been following with the noose, succeeded dexterously in slipping it over her horns, when the windlass being turned rapidly round, she found herself brought up by a violent jerk. In vain she endeavoured to get free. The hide rope which had caught her was strong enough, as Sandy affirmed, "to hold a seventy-four," and she was quickly, in spite of her bellowings and kickings, hauled up to "the bail;" while Hector, much frightened and excessively angry at his accident, picked himself up, and ran to the paling towards which Harry was beckoning him. Sandy took care on this occasion not to be caught by the cow, and managed to take all the milk he required. Several others were brought up in the same fashion. Two who had been looking on, seeing that, whatever they might do, they would have to submit at last, walked up quietly and poked their heads into "the bail." "I should like to try and milk a cow," exclaimed Reginald, who felt ambitious to imitate his cousins' example and make himself useful. "We have two more heifers to milk, and you shall try; but I don't think you will succeed at first," said Paul. Reginald was determined to make an attempt. As the heifer showed no great inclination to submit to the process--being accompanied by her calf--she was caught by the horns, quickly dragged up to "the bail," and leg-roped. Here she stood quietly enough while Paul stroked her, patted her back, and scratched her about the ears. "Now, Reginald!" cried Paul, "get your stool and milk-pail, and try what you can do." Neither Paul nor his cousin had observed that the calf-- only a few weeks old--which had remained on the other side of the yard, had been stamping and pawing the ground, and exhibiting other signs of indignation at seeing its mother made captive. Reginald, with sleeves tucked up and eager face, commenced trying to milk, but not a drop could he produce. Suddenly, uttering a loud cry, the calf, with head lowered, made a dash across the yard, sending Reginald flying in one direction, his milk-pail and stool in others, to the great amusement of the lookers-on. Reginald picked himself up, not being really hurt; and although he at first looked very frightened, he soon recovered his equanimity. "Now, Reginald," said Paul, "you will very likely succeed better this time. Try again." Reginald had plenty of spirit, and getting the pail and stool, once more sat himself down; and Paul showing him how to work, he managed to draw milk from the heifer. "Capital!" cried Paul; "but you had better let me finish--one cannot tell how long she may stay quiet." At breakfast Hector and Reginald gave very different versions of the milking business of the morning. Hector described it as "a nasty, disgusting affair;" while Reginald declared "that it was very good fun, and that he was proud of his own performance, in spite of his misadventure." _ |
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