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XXI. Troubles in the Fold—A Message

           Itwasasmalltubeortrochar,withalancepassingdowntheinside;andGabrielbegantouseitwithadexteritythatwouldhavegracedahospitalsurgeon.Passinghishandoverthesheep’sleftflank,andselectingtheproperpoint,hepuncturedtheskinandrumenwiththelanceasitstoodinthetube;thenhesuddenlywithdrewthelance,retainingthetubeinitsplace.Acurrentofairrushedupthetube,forcibleenoughtohaveextinguishedacandleheldattheorifice.

           Ithasbeensaidthatmereeaseaftertormentisdelightforatime;andthecountenancesofthesepoorcreaturesexpresseditnow.Forty-nineoperationsweresuccessfullyperformed.Owingtothegreathurrynecessitatedbythefar-gonestateofsomeoftheflock,Gabrielmissedhisaiminonecase,andinoneonlystrikingwideofthemark,andinflictingamortalblowatonceuponthesufferingewe.Fourhaddied;threerecoveredwithoutanoperation.Thetotalnumberofsheepwhichhadthusstrayedandinjuredthemselvessodangerouslywasfifty-seven.

           Whenthelove-ledmanhadceasedfromhislabours,Bathshebacameandlookedhimintheface.

           "Gabriel,willyoustayonwithme?"shesaid,smilingwinningly,andnottroublingtobringherlipsquitetogetheragainattheend,becausetherewasgoingtobeanothersmilesoon.

           "Iwill,"saidGabriel.

           Andshesmiledonhimagain.

           

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