`` Good little shadow , to keep me safe ! '' cried Will . `` I like you ; and I 'll mind better next time , 'cause you are always right . '' The shadow seemed to like this , and bobbed about so comically it made Will laugh till his eyes were full of tears . Ned came back , and they went on , having grand times in the wood . They found plenty of berries to fill the basket ; they swung down on slender birches , and got rolls of white bark for canoes ; they saw all sorts of wild-wood insects and birds ; and frolicked till they were tired . As they crossed a field , a cow suddenly put down her head and ran at them , as if she was afraid they meant to hurt her calf . All turned , and ran as fast as they could toward the wall ; but poor Will in his fright tumbled down , and lay screaming . Ned and Polly had reached the wall , and , looking back , saw that their shadows had not followed . Ned 's stood before Will , brandishing his pole ; and Polly 's was flapping a shadowy sun-bonnet with all its might . As soon as they saw that , back they went , -- Ned to threaten till he broke his pole , and Polly to flap till the strings came off . As if anxious to do its part , the bonnet flew up in the air , and coming down lit on the cross cow 's head ; which so astonished her that she ran away as hard as she could pelt . `` Was n't that funny ? '' said Will , when they had tumbled over the wall , and lay laughing in the grass on the safe side . `` I 'm glad I wore the old bonnet ; for I suppose my best hat would have gone just the same , '' said Polly thankfully . `` The calf does n't know its own mother with that thing on , '' laughed Ned . `` How brave and kind you were to come back and save me ! I 'd have been deaded if you had n't , '' said Will , looking at his brother and sister with his little face full of grateful admiration . They turned towards home after this flurry , feeling quite like heroes . When they came to the corner where two roads met , Ned proposed they should take the river-road ; for , though the longest , it was much the pleasantest .
`` We sha n't be home at supper-time , '' said XXXXX .
Ned Polly bonnet corner flap laugh right river-road sun-bonnet wall