Billy brought his drum , and this was such an addition that Sam hunted up an old one of his little brother 's , in order that he might join the drum corps . He had no sticks , however , and , casting about in his mind for a good substitute for the genuine thing , bethought him of bulrushes . `` Those will do first-rate , and there are lots in the ma ` sh , if I can only get 'em , '' he said to himself , and turned off from the road on his way home to get a supply . Now , this marsh was a treacherous spot , and the tragic story was told of a cow who got in there and sank till nothing was visible but a pair of horns above the mud , which suffocated the unwary beast . For this reason it was called `` Cowslip Marsh , '' the wags said , though it was generally believed to be so named for the yellow flowers which grew there in great profusion in the spring . Sam had seen Ben hop nimbly from one tuft of grass to another when he went to gather cowslips for Betty , and the stout boy thought he could do the same . Two or three heavy jumps landed him , not among the bulrushes , as he had hoped , but in a pool of muddy water , where he sank up to his middle with alarming rapidity . Much scared , he tried to wade out , but could only flounder to a tussock of grass , and cling there , while he endeavored to kick his legs free . He got them out , but struggled in vain to coil them up or to hoist his heavy body upon the very small island in this sea of mud . Down they splashed again ; and Sam gave a dismal groan as he thought of the leeches and water-snakes which might be lying in wait below . Visions of the lost cow also flashed across his agitated mind , and he gave a despairing shout very like a distracted `` Moo ! '' Few people passed along the lane , and the sun was setting , so the prospect of a night in the marsh nerved Sam to make a frantic plunge toward the bulrush island , which was nearer than the mainland , and looked firmer than any tussock round him . But he failed to reach this haven of rest , and was forced to stop at an old stump which stuck up , looking very like the moss-grown horns of the `` dear departed . '' Roosting here , Sam began to shout for aid in every key possible to the human voice . Such hoots and howls , whistles and roars , never woke the echoes of the lonely marsh before , or scared the portly frog who resided there in calm seclusion . He hardly expected any reply but the astonished `` Caw ! '' of the crow , who sat upon a fence watching him with gloomy interest ; and when a cheerful `` Hullo , there ! '' sounded from the lane , he was so grateful that tears of joy rolled down his fat cheeks . `` Come on ! I 'm in the ma ` sh .
Lend a hand and XXXXX me out ! ''
'm Roosting agitated drum get hoped rolled sounded told woke