And now , if he must give up the search , he seemed to have no more business in the world . But again the sighing gust of air grew into something like a hoarse voice . `` Follow the cow ! '' it said . `` Follow the cow ! Follow the cow ! '' And when these words had been repeated until Cadmus was tired of hearing them -LRB- especially as he could not imagine what cow it was , or why he was to follow her -RRB- , the gusty hole gave vent to another sentence . `` Where the stray cow lies down , there is your home . '' 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 ; `` 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 XXXXX 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 .
as before by for into of on than that to