We will help you all we can.
Where is the copse?"
"Not half a mile farther," replied Humphrey. "We shall soon be there."
On their arrival, they found that the herd were feeding at a
considerable distance from the copse, which was, perhaps, as well.
"Now," said Jacob, "I and Edward will enter into the copse with
Smoker, and you follow us, Humphrey. I will make Smoker seize the
heifer, if necessary; at all events he will keep her at bay--that is,
if she is here. First, let us walk round the copse and find her
_slot_, as we call the track of a deer. See, here is her footing.
Now let us go in."
They advanced cautiously into the thicket, following the track of the
heifer, and at last came upon her. Apparently she had not calved more
than an hour, and was licking the calf, which was not yet on its legs.
As soon as the animal perceived Jacob and Edward, she shook her head,
and was about to run at them; but Jacob told Smoker to seize her, and
the dog flew at her immediately. The attack of the dog drove back the
heifer quite into the thicket, and as the dog bounded round her,
springing this way and that way to escape her horns, the heifer was
soon separated from the calf.
"Now then, Edward and Humphrey," said Jacob, advancing between the
heifer and the calf, "lift up the calf between you and put it in the
cart.
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