Page:Edison Marshall--Shepherds of the wild.djvu/159

Rh animals—and the pack had made short and terrible work of him.

"There's ten of 'em," Fargo went on," and there ain't no one to guard the flock. That one big shepherd dog would last quick—he wouldn't be able to bluff off them hounds of mine like he could bluff coyotes. And then they'd have the time of their lives—the time of their lives."

"You mean—take 'em and sick 'em on?" José asked.

"I've got a better way than that. Of course one of us will have to take 'em and show 'em the way until they get on the track of the flock, and of course that one will have to be me. I'm the only living man that can handle 'em—you remember the night that old Ben got out and how he pretty near killed that little cowman from Naptha. There's a little medicine I've got to give 'em before I go, and that means—for you to take a little ride over to Newt Hillguard's."

José half-closed his eyes. He had begun to understand.

"I've always cussed at Newt for keepin' that little band of Shropshires in his back lot, but I'm glad now he didn't get rid of them," Fargo went on. "You're to bring back a sheep in your saddle—a lamb 'll do, or any old ewe he was about to slaughter. Then, after we get through here, all I'll have to do is start up the old Horse Creek trail with that pack of dogs. It'll be a couple of hours before I can get started, and it'll