The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-07-08


my lords poor farmers were being
ruined by it. And then the stockman
showed me his little flock, which was all
his master had kept-a kind of fancy
breed of the old South Down sort, all
black and curly like the toys you see at
the fair. kerow said crow, and a black
shadow fell across, and then l felt, with
a kind OF sinking of the heart, that all
this had been toreseen. There was the
black lamb that was meant to break the
drought, and that night we were to pas
ture our sheep on the common all about
| Wanbury Top.
"'Oh, if somebody else had been picked
out for the job ? said l to myself, for l
was frightened, l can tell you. But l felt
that L had got to go through with it. And
when we came to Wanbury Common and
we'll settled the sheep for the night, with
the dogs on the watch, and US taking our
rest i'll shed, l got up and stole away
back to Bulpits. | had noticed the lay OF
the ground, and, knowing the ways OF
sheep, made no disturbance among them,
but picked out my black eve lamb,
and, throwing her over my shoulder,
made my way, not across the Common,
but by path through a wood that led TO
Wanbury Top. Yes, l was a sheep
stealer, and might be hanged or trans
ported if any body caught me. But when
L got to the wood l felt safe. Nobody had
seen me; nobody had followed me. But il
was awtully black under the trees-they
were old thorns and yews; and now it was
an owl that gave a shrek that made me
jump almost out of my skin, or some old
crow would give a knowing croak that
sent shiver through me. but | found
the stone, as the wise woman had said,
right at the very top where it was clear
and bare, and where you looked down on
all the country round, with here and
! there light like a star from some farm
or mansion, and a little faint light that
moved slowly along in the far distance l
! took to be from ship at sea. But now
the horn of the old moon was rising over
the woods, and l heard the church clocks
! all round that were Ginning r. so still
and quiet it was.
We'll, l performed everything as | had
been told and 1 said the terrible words,
! and as was drawing the carcase round
| Tor the third time-would you believe it,
mates Pit was snatched away from me as
| II some wild beast had got hold of it, and
ran and ran till | rolled head over heels
| into sand-pit, and there lay half buried
IN the soft sand, too terrified to move.
But L heard thunder muttering over head
and there seemed a kind OF freshness in
the air, and l even thought | felt drop
or two OF rain as l crept back to the shed
as soon as daylight showed me the way.
But with the full shine of day every
thing looked as bright and droughty as
ever, and the only clouds were clouds OF
| dust all round that showed where people
were driving their sheep along to the fair.
And l never saw such a fair, where there
were so many sheep and SO few buyers. |
stood there for four mortal hours, and not
a soul came nigh me. Then dealer came
along and offered me shilling apiece tor
the lot. Soon after this l saw Squire San
don riding round. We'll, Coney.' he
said, in his bitter-sweet voice, what are
-lrN
i've shlllings head, as it's you, squire,
l said, full of trouble to see the stock
thrown away like that. Five shillings p
/ laughed he. Come, for Mistress Dulcie'S
sake, I'll give you half-a-crownr But |
shook my head. That was the price my
mistress had set me, and not penny less
would | take. All right laughed the
squire, i can get as good for eighteen
pence But | hadn't another offer, and
when night came drove the whole flock
| back to the common. But how was l to
meet my mistress with the sheep unsold
that there was no feed for on the farm,
and with no money in my pocket for her,
and the ballitfs perhaps waiting for the
flock as l drove them in And after all
the wickedness that Pd done to break the
drought to find it stronger than ever.
\ es, 1t was enough to break my heart as
well as her's-my poor young mistress
1T was terrible hot night, and l took
my blanket out OF the shed and laid it in
a turze bush, and lay there looking at the
stars that shone brighter, L think, than
ever | saw them before; and soon l forgot
my trouble in sleep-and yet not alto
gether, for in my dreams l was racing
round Wanbury Top, with one like q
roaring lion at my heels.
But l could hardly have slept an hour
when l awoke and found myself in a
pool. Raining!-aye, such beautiful rain
nd
gentle and so steady, while the ground
fairly steamed with it. Drenched as |
was, l jumped about like mad one,
| 'Coney,' L said, you've saved your mis-
tress, you've saved the flock, you've
saved your country! Coney, you've broke
the drought
And what a morning it was, with the
beautiful rain still falling, and the birds
all chirping, and the country turning
green as you looked at it, Soon l spied q
dealer l knew galloping along over the
common. Sold your sheep yet, Coney?'
he cried, as soon as he was within ear
shot. No, nor don't want TOP said 1.
Come, pll give you fifteen shiIHngs all
round Double that may fetch me- for
| saw some more riding over the COM
mon. But who was the first, do you
think, but Squire Sandon on his black
horse. 'Coneyv he cried, in his wicked
est voice of all, 'Coney, what are you
chaffering with my sheep for? " on
know he said, jumping off his horse
and coming close to me, that you sold
me the whole flock at half a crown yes
terday and had earnest money, and here
the rest of the price in notes. Now he
went on, mutterlng in my ear, stand to
me, and there's fifty pounds for you;
deny me, and I'll give you into custody
for sheep-stealing.' You've no proof,
stammered l, for l was fairly upset with
the notion of this wicked creature getting
the better of me. And how could he
have known anything about the bust
ness of the black lamb, unless he had
been there in the shape of an old crow, or
perhaps something worse? 'Proof!' said
| he. Haven't | proof enough when the
skin Of the creature is hanging up in the
very shed where you slept. Come, let us
step in and close our bargain before any
body is the wiser | looked in, and
there, sure enough, hung against the
wall the skin of the black lamb; and then
| l thought l was lost.
And then heard more horses hoofs
on the turf, and, behold, it was nv
young mistress, who had ridden over to
find me, and with her was a fine. tall
! youth on horseback, whom l knew from
the family likeness to be her brother
Jem, who had gone out to Australia
some years before. oh, Coneyp she
cried as soon as she saw me. Won haven't
sold the sheep, hope, for mere is my
brother, who wants to buy the whole
| flock
THE sheep are mine. ma'am,' said
Sandon, taking off his hat with a sweep
OF the arm. I bought them of your man
yesterday for half-a-crown apiece, but
Ill sell them back at fifty shillings.'
"'Oh, Coneyn cried my mistress in
distress, you have ruined us ALL
"'He lies, ma'amv l cried; he lies!
1 sold no sheep to him or any body else.
And now send me To nrisnn Sn1irn or