Go on without me; I must keep my
word. Go on."
So they went on, impatient and eager for this wondrous quest, Ezra
and Joel muttering now and then at the obstinacy of the boy, but
Samuel full of glowing admiration. Dahvid watched them as they moved
up the hill. That dream of finding the Christ-child--how could he give
it up? Once he started forward: "I will go!" But something held him
back, and he threw himself on the ground and kept back tears of bitter
disappointment. After a time he grew calmer, and found a certain
comfort in thinking of the helplessness of his flock.
Suddenly the low growling of his dog brought him to his feet. But he
saw nothing, heard nothing, and bade the dog be still. In a moment,
with a bark of alarm, the dog was up again and away. Dahvid sprang up,
certain now that danger was near. There was panic in the flock. Toward
the wilderness he could see lean, gray forms, moving stealthily and
swiftly among the sheep. Wolves! Springing upon a rock, and waving his
cloak in circles about his head, he uttered the familiar call which
gathered the sheep about him, his own sheep nearest, and behind them
the flocks of Samuel, Ezra, and Joel. The wolves made off and Dahvid
quickly looked over his flock to see if all were there--for the
Eastern shepherd knows his sheep by name.
Pages:
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143