With a tin dipper they
tried to pour some relief into the open mouth of the sufferer,
who had so little appreciation that he simply taxed his remaining
strength to blow it out in their faces. Several attempts ended
the same way. Then the brute, in what looked like temper, swung
his muzzle and dashed the whole dipper away. Next they tried the
usual method, mixing it with a bran mash, considered a delicacy
in the bovine world, but Buck again took notice, under pressure
only, to dash it away and waste it all.
It occurred to them they might force it down his throat if they
could raise his head. So they used a hand lever and a prop to
elevate the muzzle, and were about to try another inpour, when
Buck leaped to his feet, and behaving like one who has been
shamming, made at full gallop for the stable, nor stopped till
safely in his stall, where at once he dropped in all the evident
agony of a new spasm.
It is a common thing for oxen to sham sick, but this was the real
thing, and it seemed they were going to lose the ox, which meant
also lose a large part of the harvest.
In the stable, now, they had a better chance; they tied him, then
raised his head with a lever till his snout was high above his
shoulders.
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