All at once she wheeled short round , and charged full at her old friend Toby , whose conduct cut her to the heart . Poor slow Toby backed so precipitately that he tripped over a stone , and down went horse , matadore , and all , in one ignominious heap , while distracted Buttercup took a surprising leap over the wall , and galloped wildly out of sight down the road . `` Catch her , stop her , head her off ! run , boys , run ! '' shouted Dan , tearing after her at his best pace , for she was Mr. Bhaer 's pet Alderney , and if anything happened to her , Dan feared it would be all over with him . Such a running and racing and bawling and puffing as there was before she was caught ! The fish-poles were left behind ; Toby was trotted nearly off his legs in the chase ; and every boy was red , breathless , and scared . They found poor Buttercup at last in a flower garden , where she had taken refuge , worn out with the long run . Borrowing a rope for a halter , Dan led her home , followed by a party of very sober young gentlemen , for the cow was in a sad state , having strained her shoulder jumping , so that she limped , her eyes looked wild , and her glossy coat was wet and muddy . `` You 'll catch it this time , Dan , '' said Tommy , as he led the wheezing donkey beside the maltreated cow . `` So will you , for you helped . '' `` We all did , but Demi , '' added Jack . `` He put it into our heads , '' said Ned . `` I told you not to do it , '' cried Demi , who was most broken-hearted at poor Buttercup 's state . `` Old Bhaer will send me off , I guess . Do n't care if he does , '' muttered Dan , looking worried in spite of his words . `` We 'll ask him not to , all of us , '' said Demi , and the others assented with the exception of Stuffy , who cherished the hope that all the punishment might fall on one guilty head . Dan only said , `` Do n't bother about me ; '' but he never forgot it , even though he led the lads astray again , as soon as the temptation came . When Mr. Bhaer saw the animal , and heard the story , he said very little , evidently fearing that he should say too much in the first moments of impatience . Buttercup was made comfortable in her stall , and the boys sent to their rooms till supper-time .
This brief respite gave them time to think the matter over , to wonder what the penalty would be , and to try to imagine where XXXXX would be sent .
Alderney Bhaer Dan Demi Jack Stuffy Toby fall fish-poles supper-time