There stood in fact a frightful-looking creature half consumed in light--yet a pale light, seemingly not strong enough to burn.

It could not be a phoenix, for he saw no wings, and thought he saw four legs.

Suddenly he burst out laughing, and laughed that the hills echoed.

His sleep-blinded eyes had at length found their focus and clarity.
"I see!" he said, "I see what it is! It's Jeames Grade's coo 'at's been loupin' ower the mune, an's stucken upo' 't!" In very truth there was the moon between the legs of the cow! She did not remain there long however, but was soon on the cow's back, as she crept up and up in the face of the sun.

He bethought him of a couplet that Grizzie had taught him when he was a child: Whan the coo loups ower the mune, The reid gowd rains intil men's shune.
And in after-life he thought not unfrequently of this odd vision he had had.