The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-12-14

tac4 the storm. and every now ia aEsin
be whined and drew closer 70 lis mas
ters heels, rs though protesting against
the cruelty Of nature.
Long before they reached the place
where the last flock Of sheep were hud-
died helplessly together awaiting in stu
pid resignation their doom both man
and dog were about spent.
But at sight Of the silly. frightened
sheep Rover gave q joyous bark and
bounded forward at once, true to his in.
stinct and training. With the stupidity
Of their kind the creatures had chosen
the very worst spot they could have
selected wherein to abide during the
severity of the storm.
The wind whirled and eddied up q
narrow gorge and laid great wreaths Of
snow all about their woolly sides.
Martin knew that if they could be
once driven around to the other side of
the hill. where the wind would keep the
ground comparatively free from snow,
and where there was also some shelter
to be obtained from a hemel and a
roughly constructed foldyard. fenced
round with stone walls. there would be
little to dread, and they could be looked
after and fed. until the severity of the
storm was passed.
But it required considerable deter.
mination to make the creatures move at
all, and still more to do SO in the teeth
of the cutting wind. The cold haG
benumbed them and rendered Them
almost torpid.
Rover's approach. however. reused
them to faint display of animation,
and he began proceedings at once by
running around AID biting, or pretend
ing to bite, the laggards. barking all the
while as loudly as his strength would al
low.
After minute or two they began to
move in the direction indicated to the
dog by his master. and very slowly. but
surely, they were gradually led away
from their dangerous situation into
safety. It took long time for them to
reach the other side of the hill and to
find the part fenced in by the roughly
built and mortarless stone walls and
the hurdles. stuffed with ragged furze,
but the difficult task was accomplished
at length, and every sheep and yearling
lamb was folded safe.
Martin, the shepherd, gave great sigh
of relief as the last bleating straggler
passed through the gap. and he placed a
hurdle across it to prevent their egress.
but he acknowledged to himself that a
few minutes longer and they would in
| oxit, h11, no va rp hin,
He was faint from lack of food. Since
the noon Of the previous day not NOR
sci had passed his lips, for he had loathed
the sight of victuals after his debauch
and had left home in such haste that
morning that he had no time to break
his fast, even though Nelly insisted upon
getting up and lighting the fire and boil
ing the kettle. He had swallowed a
drink of tea, but nothing more. Now he
bitterly regretted his own folly as the
strain told upon his exhausted vitality.
It was over now, however, and tho
sheep were safe. There was store of
hay stacked in the Enclosure ready for
such emergencies as the present one. and
Martin proceeded to the lighter labor Of
feeding his flock.
BY the time this was accomplished the
little daylight there had been that day
had entirely failed, and a thick murky
darkness reigned everywhere, although
it was only about o'clock. When Mar
tin and his dog set out on their home
ward journey, the former had almost to
grope his way out of the inclosure, and
only the instinct of Rover kept him on
the right path. The snow was coming
down softly, but. .pitilessly, wrapping
everything in white and rapidly thick
ening sheet and fast obliterating every
familiar landmark.
On an ordinary occasion the old shep-
herd could have found his way home
blindfolded, so well acquainted was he
with every foot of the road. But his
strength had utterly deserted him, and
every step he now took was with a great
and increasing effort. The cold appear
ed to grip his heart as with a hand of
iron and to arrest his laboring breath.
At last he stumbled and fell at the foot
of great bowlder. He could go no
farther. Nature had completely given
out.
Then all at once he remembered that
if this drowsy slumber which was COM
ing on did creep over his senses he was
certainly done for. All, yes! But he
had that in his breast pocket that would
give him new life.
Yes, it was all right. He had not for
gotten it. His heavy eyes lighted up
with momentary CLEAN of pleasure as
he drew out fat bottle containing per-
haps half gill of raw whisky.
Nobody could blame him for taking it
now. He would do it to save his life =
only for that. Without some fresh &C
cess of strength and energy he would
not be able to move hand or limb. The
lethargic condition was gaining upon
him, and resistance was scarcely posi-
BILE unless the fiery spirit should stimu-
late his vitality. Come, there was some
good in the stuff yet if it saved mans
life!
Accordingly he drew out the cork Of
the bottle with his teeth, and the strong