Page:Silversheene (1924).djvu/67

 hoping all the time that they would get sick of it and turn back. But the old leader had no mind to turn back. He seemed to think that better feed was ahead.

So hour after hour he led them further and further from the large flock, until finally they were hopelessly separated from the rest of the sheep. Then it was that the shepherds discovered that Silversheene was missing. The following day they saw that the old buck was also gone, and they imagined some sheep as well. Well, they would have to look out for themselves, as they had their hands full with the main flock. So it happened that two days later poor Silversheene found himself hopelessly lost in the mountains. He and his little flock were marooned in a small valley between high mountains. The snow that had continued to fall had obliterated all signs of their tracks, so no one could find them.

When the shepherds finally reported the event to Mr. Henderson he whistled and looked very grave.