the house lit up , and the farmhands dashed out with torches and old muskets , expecting perhaps foxes or wolves ; they halted at the fence staring , as well they might ; the cow had taken to frantic bucking , but iskierka had her claws deeply embedded in the roll of fat around its neck , and was squealing half in excitement , half in frustration , ineffectually biting at it with her still-small jaws .