They get water at the brook, and I saw where they had dug down through the snow to get to the dry swamp grass underneath.

They won't leave their yard if we don't scare them; they couldn't run in the deep snow." We thought that probably the oxen had grown wild from being off in the woods so long.

However, Willis advanced slowly, calling, "Co-boss!" Seeing us coming and hearing human voices, the old ox lifted his muzzle toward us and snuffed genially.

He did not appear to be afraid, but behaved as if he were glad to see us.

The other one--old Broad--had been lying down near by out of sight in the deep pathway, but now he suddenly rose and stood staring at us.