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These words were pronounced but a single time； and died away into a
whisper before Cadmus was fully satisfied that he had caught the meaning。
He put other questions； but received no answer； only the gust of wind
sighed continually out of the cavity； and blew the withered leaves rustling
along the ground before it。
〃Did there really come any words out of the hole？〃 thought Cadmus；
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〃or have I been dreaming all this while？〃
He turned away from the oracle； and thought himself no wiser than
when he came thither。 Caring little what might happen to him； he took the
first path that offered itself； and went along at a sluggish pace； for； having
no object in view； nor any reason to go one way more than another； it
would certainly have been foolish to make haste。 Whenever he met
anybody； the old question was at his tongue's end。
〃Have you seen a beautiful maiden； dressed like a king's daughter； and
mounted on a snow…white bull； that gallops as swiftly as the wind？〃
But； remembering what the oracle had said； he only half uttered the
words； and then mumbled the rest indistinctly； and from his confusion；
people must have imagined that this handsome young man had lost his
wits。
I know not how far Cadmus had gone； nor could he himself have told
you； when at no great distance before him； he beheld a brindled cow。 She
was lying down by the wayside； and quietly chewing her cud； nor did she
take any notice of the young man until he had approached pretty nigh。
Then； getting leisurely upon her feet； and giving her head a gentle toss； she
began to move along at a moderate pace； often pausing just long enough to
crop a mouthful of grass。 Cadmus loitered behind； whistling idly to
himself； and scarcely noticing the cow； until the thought occurred to him；
whether this could possibly be the animal which； according to the oracle's
response； was to serve him for a guide。 But he smiled at himself for
fancying such a thing。 He could not seriously think that this was the cow；
because she went along so quietly； behaving just like any other cow。
Evidently she neither knew nor cared so much as a wisp of hay about
Cadmus； and was only thinking how to get her living along the wayside；
where the herbage was green and fresh。 Perhaps she was going home to be
milked。
〃Cow； cow； cow！〃 cried Cadmus。 〃Hey； Brindle； hey！ Stop； my good
cow！〃
He wanted to come up with the cow； so as to examine her； and see if
she would appear to know him； or whether there were any peculiarities to
distinguish her from a thousand other cows； whose only business is to fill
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the milk…pail； and sometimes kick it over。 But still the brindled cow
trudged on； whisking her tail to keep the flies away； and taking as little
notice of Cadmus as she well could。 If he walked slowly； so did the cow；
and seized the opportunity to graze。 If he quickened his pace； the cow
went just so much the faster； and once； when Cadmus tried to catch her by
running； she threw out her heels； stuck her tail straight on end； and set off
at a gallop； looking as queerly as cows generally do； while putting
themselves to their speed。
When Cadmus saw that it was impossible to come up with her； he
walked on moderately； as before。 The cow； too； went leisurely on； without
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 stopp