"Talk of a bull in a china-shop; why, that would be child's play to a cow in a cabin!" Mr Marline burst out laughing at this, and so too did Captain Miles himself as soon as he had spoken the words, while I couldn't help joining in, it was all so funny.

Then the first mate came down with two or three of the hands to remove the violent animal, which had now jammed itself under Captain Miles' own cot in his private sanctum beyond the cuddy.
But, Mrs Brindle was not so easily dislodged, one of the sailors having to get through the stern port in order to raise the cot while the other men pulled at her legs.
She was evidently determined not to be moved against her will; for, on being lugged out again into the main cabin, she quickly shook off the grasp of her captors, cantering out of the sliding-doors, with her tail in the air, bellowing still furiously and butting at those in her way.
Her course was soon arrested, however.

As she bounded forwards along the deck she came to the open hatchway leading to the hold, where tumbling down on top of the rum puncheons, before anyone could interpose, she broke her neck instanter.
"It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good," says the old proverb, the truth of which was exemplified in this instance.

If the captain lost his milk, the crew gained a plentiful supply of fresh meat by the accident, faring sumptuously for many days afterwards on roast beef and all sorts of delicate dishes which Cuffee concocted out of the carcass of the unfortunate animal.
"I wouldn't have lost her for twenty pounds!" said Captain Miles on the poop later on, when he and the first mate were talking over the strange way in which the thing all happened.
"Humph!" observed Mr Marline slyly in his dry way; "I think she gave you one or two on account before she performed the happy despatch, eh ?" "Funny dog!" exclaimed Captain Miles, giving him a dig in the ribs by way of acknowledging the allusion to the thumps poor Brindle had treated him to, before she came on board and after; and, there, the matter ended, as far as everybody was concerned, the steward recovering from his fainting fit, and the eyes of Davis the second mate being none the worse as it turned out for their deluge of hot pea-soup, while the damages in the cabin were soon repaired.

Only the poor cow came to grief!.