"They won't hurt you," he told her.
"They won't bite, will they ?" she asked, casting a glance of inquiry at the old man and then turning her eyes again upon the fascinating animals.
"No," said the old man, still grinning, "just as gentle as kittens." She approached them circuitously.

"Sure ?" she said.
"Sure," replied the old man.

He climbed from the wagon and came to the heads of the oxen.

With him as an ally, she finally succeeded in patting the nose of the nearest ox.

"Aren't they solemn, kind old fellows?
Don't you get to think a great deal of them ?" "Well, they're kind of aggravating beasts sometimes," he said.