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. Now it seemed easy to pour the medicine down that
long, sloping passage. But his mouth was tightly closed, any that
entered his nostrils was blown afar, and the suffering beast
strained at the rope till he seemed likely to strangle.

Both men and ox were worn out with the struggle; the brute was no
better, but rather worse.

"Wall," said Rolf, "I've seen a good many ornery steers, but
that's the orneriest I ever did handle, an' I reckon we'll lose
him if he don't get that poison into him pretty soon."