Page:Edison Marshall--Shepherds of the wild.djvu/142

134 to wonder and be amazed at his own unlooked-for lightness of heart, his buoyant spirits.

"It's typical of Spot," the girl said at the end. "Perhaps you've noticed that he's oversized—taller and stronger than the rest?"

"Yes "

"If it hadn't been for that, he would have likely been lamb stew long ago. He was exceptionally large at birth, and father had him retained partly because he was interested in his unusual coloring, and partly because he thought that his extra size would give him value as a ram. He endeared himself to the herder, and this year—he's a yearling ram but he's not yet mature—father let him run with the flock. None of us know what to make of him."

They got up, built the fire high so that its glow went out over the flock, and tried to get another glimpse of him. They found him easily enough, at the very foremost of the band, his brown color in vivid contrast to the whiteness of the ewes. And in finding him Alice made another, less pleasing discovery.

Hugh didn't understand at first. He saw that she was making some kind of a count, first leisurely, then in frantic haste. A troubled look came into her fresh face. Once more she verified the count, then turned to him with a rueful smile.

"My day's work is not yet over," she said slowly.

"Why not?" he demanded.