The old man
looked after him with pride, as he bounded over the rocks, and said to
himself:
"Some evil beast, I doubt not. But the lad's heart is brave and he
must learn to face dangers. I will wait a moment."
Presently the sheep came huddling round the hill in terror. The quick,
faint bleat of the ewes showed that they had seen a foe. The old man
arose and hurried in the direction in which the lad had disappeared.
Joseph was just returning, breathless, from the ravine below.
"It was a wolf, grandfather. The sheep on this side of the ledge had
seen him and were flying. Just as I reached the brow of the hill, he
was creeping round the end of the ledge below, ready to spring upon a
ewe that was feeding near. The first thing he knew a stone from my
sling hit him, and he went howling down the hill. I think I broke his
leg, for he went on three legs and I gained on him as I ran after him;
but he crawled into a narrow place among the rocks in the gorge down
yonder, and I could not follow him."
"Well done, my lad," said the ancient Stephanus proudly. "You will
make a good shepherd. These single wolves are cowards. It is always
safe to face them. When they come in packs, it is quite another thing.
But this fellow will keep at a safe distance for the rest of the
night, you may depend. Let us go back to our shelter and call the
sheep together.
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