Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-11-29

snauowy grayhess al MS feet. Shut
up within his narrow circle of vision
he stumbled upward through the
snow, guided only by the bleating Of
the sheep in the folds below, and by
the varying steepness of the hillside.
Never in all his life had the shep-
herd experienced such night. Even
to this day the memory of it Is fresh
in the countryside, and many are the
stories have heard; how whole focks
were lost; how sheep were buried I'M
der snow-wreaths, and a few discoy-
cred only by their bleating; and how
more than one shepherd had lost his
life in the work of rescue.
But, in spite of all, he struggled on
Up till now the faint hope had clung
to him that the shepherd of the
Ruchill might be safely housed some
where; it was just possible he might
have gone to the Craig Slap. But as
he crossed the march-dyke between
the Crammil and the Ruchill that hope
was shattered, for suddenly out of the
darkness the form of sheep doomed
dimly before him.
Jock Scott halted in despair. "Dod!'|
he muttered, "his sleeps no bielded."
There could be no doubt now that
some act had befallen his friend, for
nothing else would have prevented him
from folding his sheep on such a
night. Somewhere on the hillside he
or his body must be lying. But
where? There was no possibility OF
a systematic search; all landmarks
were hidden under the drift, and in
the black darkness and bowling storm
even the shepherd stood bewildered.
The sense of locality had almost left
him; moreover he was stiff with cold,
and his whole body aohed; and worse,
his hands and feet were becoming
numb. In his WEAKNESS and utter
Indebtedness he was tempted to give
up the search in despair. But as the
thought of his friend lying on tho
hillside in the snow rose to his mind,
with a gasp and a sob he once more
set his face to the storm, gripping
his staff firmly to guide and steady
his steps.
The story of the friendship OF the
two shepherds is one of the common
est in the countryside. The tale OK
that dreadful night is the property
of all; but the details you will no
where hear. Indeed, the shepherd OF
the Crammil never could remember
them himself His recollection OF the
search was merely one of growing
numbness and helplessness and ever
present despair. He had lost all hope
of rescuing his friend; but 1t was his
duty to continue the search so long as
he could stumble on. And that was
enough for him.
It must have been after about two
hours of weary, hopeless wandering
that at last he tripped over some
thing soft at the foot of high rock.
In a moment he was on his knees and
had scraped the snow from the body
By this time feeling had almost en-
tirely left his body and he was becom-
ing unconscious. The rest of his task
he performed mechanically. He lifted
the body in his arms-whe ether alive or
dead he knew not; but he vaguely re-
membered hearing the man groan as
he raised him. How he got back he
never knew. Where he was he did not
try to recollect. He simply stumbled
blindly forward under his load, picking
his way by instinct. In shadowy way
he remembered wading burns and
stumbling through drifts; but the
whole tale of his wandering was con
fused. The only abiding impression OF
the night was one of dull, lasting, all
absorbing pain, and sense OF the mos'
ineffable Joy when at last the hght OF
Watts cottage shone through the dark
ness. and he tottered into the delight
full warmth Of the kitchen with the
form of his friend hanging limp IN his
arms.
LAYING Wat Dempster on the bed, ne
seized a flask of brandy offered him ana
pulped down mouthfuls of the merry
liquor. Then he threw off his dripping
nlaid and covered over the fire, digging
his Ifeless fingers into the very names
Gradually these restoratives began 10
take effect. and the reaction that ever
follows extreme cold set in. Slowly
the numbness left his hands and 1eet;
and as the warmth spread the hot blood
coursed upwards, till gradually de-
ligbtful glow had overspread his body.
With the warmth came remembrance
of his friend. Again he seized the mask
forced some brandy down Watts throat,
,tripped off his wet clothing and
wrapped him in warm blankets. Then,
with a few words to the terror-stricken
wife, he sped out into the night.
The nearest farmhouse was two miles
off. but the shepherd covered the dis
lance in q very short time. There was
nobody about. He rushed into the
stable saddled a horse, and in another
minute was on his way again. The
road was unfenced and all traces OF 1t
obliterated by snow; but in less than
an hour he had covered the nine miles
that lay between him and the nearest
doctor; and in another three hours the
broken limb was set, the doctor had LETT
the cottage and the shepherd of the
Ruchill was restored to consciousness.
A fortnight had passed. Except in
the riffs and crannies of the hilltops