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looking behind。 Wherever the grass was greenest； there she nibbled a
mouthful or two。 Where a brook glistened brightly across the path； there
the cow drank； and breathed a comfortable sigh； and drank again。 and
trudged onward at the pace that best suited herself and Cadmus。
〃I do believe；〃 thought Cadmus； 〃that this may be the cow that was
foretold me。 If it be the one； I suppose she will lie down somewhere
hereabouts。〃
Whether it were the oracular cow or some other one； it did not seem
reasonable that she should travel a great way farther。 So； whenever they
reached a particularly pleasant spot on a breezy hillside； or in a sheltered
vale； or flowery meadow； on the shore of a calm lake； or along the bank of
a clear stream； Cadmus looked eagerly around to see if the situation would
suit him for a home。 But still； whether he liked the place or no； the
brindled cow never offered to lie down。 On she went at the quiet pace of a
cow going homeward to the barn yard； and； every moment； Cadmus
expected to see a milkmaid approaching with a pail； or a herdsman
running to head the stray animal； and turn her back towards the pasture。
But no milkmaid came； no herdsman drove her back； and Cadmus
followed the stray Brindle till he was almost ready to drop down with
fatigue。
〃O brindled cow；〃 cried he； in a tone of despair； 〃do you never mean to
stop？〃
He had now grown too intent on following her to think of lagging
behind； however long the way； and whatever might be his fatigue。 Indeed；
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it seemed as if there were something about the animal that bewitched
people。 Several persons who happened to see the brindled cow； and
Cadmus following behind； began to trudge after her； precisely as he did。
Cadmus was glad of somebody to converse with； and therefore talked very
freely to these good people。 He told them all his adventures； and how he
had left King Agenor in his palace； and Phoenix at one place； and Cilix at
another； and Thasus at a third； and his dear mother； Queen Telephassa；
under a flowery sod； so that now he was quite alone； both friendless and
homeless。 He mentioned； likewise； that the oracle had bidden him be
guided by a cow； and inquired of the strangers whether they supposed that
this brindled animal could be the one。
〃Why； 'tis a very wonderful affair；〃 answered one of his new
companions。 〃I am pretty well acquainted with the ways of cattle； and I
never knew a cow； of her own accord； to go so far without stopping。 If my
legs will let me； I'll never leave following the beast till she lies down。〃
〃Nor I！〃 said a second。
〃Nor I！〃 cried a third。 〃If she goes a hundred miles farther； I am
determined to see the end of it。〃
The secret of it was； you must know； that the cow was an enchanted
cow； and that； without their being conscious of it； she threw some of her
enchantment over everybody that took so much as half a dozen steps
behind her。 They could not possibly help following her； though all the time
they fancied themselves doing it of their own accord。 The cow was by no
means very nice in choosing her path； so that sometimes they had to
scramble over rocks； or wade through mud and mire； and all in a terribly
bedraggled condition； and tired to death； and very hungry； into the bargain。
What a weary business it was！
But still they kept trudging stoutly forward； and talking as they went。
The strangers grew very fond of Cadmus； and resolved never to leave him；
but to help him build a city wherever the cow might lie down。 In the center
of it there should be a noble palace； in which Cadmus might dwell； and be
their king； with a throne； a crown； a sceptre； a purple robe； and everything
else that a king ought to have； for in him there was the royal blood； and
the royal heart； and the head that knew how to rule。
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While they were talking of these schemes； and beguiling the
tediousness of the way with laying out the plan of the new city； one of the
company happened to look at the cow。
〃Joy！ joy！〃 cried he； clapping his hands。 〃Brindle is going to lie
down。〃
They all looked； and； sure enough； the cow had stopped； and was
staring leisurely about her； as other cows do when on the point of lying
down。 And slowly； slowly did she recline herself on the soft grass； first
bending her forelegs； and then crouching her hind ones。 When Cadmus
and his companions came up with her； there was the brindled cow taking
her ease； chewing her cud； and looking them quietly in the face； as if this
was just the spot she had been seeking for； and as if it were all a matter of
course。
〃This； then；〃 said Cadmus； gazing around him； 〃this is to be my
home。〃
It was a fertile and lovely plain； with great trees flinging their sun…
speckled shadows over it； and hills fencing it in from the rough weather At
no great distance； they beheld a river gleaming in the sunshine。 A home
feeling stole into the heart of poor Cadmus。 He was very glad to know that
here he might awake in the morning without the necessity of putting on his
dusty sandals to travel farther and farther。 The days and the years would
pass over him； and find him still in this pleasant spot。 If he could have had
his brothers with him； and his friend Thasus； and could have seen his dear
mother under a roof of his own； he might here have been happy after all
their disappointments。 Some day or other； too； his sister Europa might
have come quietly to the door of his home； and smiled round upon the
familiar faces。 But； indeed； since there was no hope of regaining the
friends of his boyhood； or ever seeing his dear sister again； Cadmus
resolved to make himself happy with these new companions； who had
grown so fond of him while following the cow。
〃Yes； my friends；〃 said he to them； 〃this is to be our home。 Here we
will build our habitations。 The brindled cow； which has led us hither； will
supply us with milk。 We will