She stopped frequently to listen.

Sometimes she could hear it, and sometimes she could not.
She, however, steadily persevered, though she encountered a great many obstacles on the way.

Sometimes there were wet places, which it was very hard to get round.

At other times, there were dense thickets, which she had to scramble through, or rocks over which she had to climb, either up or down.

The sound, however, of the bell, came nearer and nearer.
"I verily believe," said she at length, "that it is Queen Bess." Queen Bess was one of Mary Erskine's cows.
The idea that the sound which she was following might possibly be Queen Bess's bell, gave her great courage.