She was afraid of cows, even when they were within the quiet enclosure of the yard, and here was a wild lot apparently coming upon her to destroy her.
She crouched, terror stricken, as if to take shelter behind the frail bulwark of her easel.
Then she saw a horse leap through the gap in the fence and come galloping after the cows.

On the horse was a girl, not a large girl, but she was riding fearlessly, bare-back, and urging the horse to greater strides.

Her black hair was trailing in the wind as she waved a willow switch and shouted lustily at the cows.

She managed to head the cows off before they had reached Mildred, rounding them up sharply and driving them back through the breach into the road which they followed quietly homeward.

The rider then galloped back to the frightened girl.
"Did the cows scare you ?" she asked.
"Yes," panted Mildred.