ith
you before long."

"Shall I go over with you?"

"Oh, no," she answered, and hurried away.

"Don't forget what I said about the creek," he called out after her.

As she looked back he pointed first at the shack and then at the creek,
bringing his arm around in a semicircle as if it were a sort of
dial-hand to the prairie. "Don't get lost," he added.

When she nodded to show that she understood, he strode on after the
sheep. They had been gaining ground steadily and had got far ahead.

Janet, reaching the scene of the nativity, became very much interested.
The lamb was just beginning to look up and take notice; she stooped
over him in rapt contemplation. His little merino back was wrinkled as
fine as a frown. His little hoofs were already beginning to feel the
ground under them; he was going to rise! Then ensued a lamb's usual
drunken contest with the laws of gravity. While he stepped on air and
tried to get the hang of things, Janet followed his fortunes with bated
breath. When he had got his four legs firmly planted, the first thing
he did was to shake himself; and he did it with such vigor that he
upset himself. This was a surprise to Janet if not to the lamb; he had
shaken himself off his feet; everything had to be done over again. He
seemed a little stultified by this turn of affairs; but though he was
down the fall had not knocked any of the ambition out of him; he
immediately went at it again. This time he conquered and stood right
up to the bar of life, much to Janet's relief.

Having filled himself and spent a moment looking at nothing in
particular, he decided that the best thing to do was to veer around and
have some more; in taking this step, however, there was some sort of
error in the proceedings and he went down forward on his knees. A
moment later the hind legs stumbled and fell, and he was all down; now
he decided to take a rest. As the mother nosed him over and showed
every sign of affection, Janet began to see that her services were not
needed; her presence was of no consequence whatever. There was nothing
for her to do but to stroke his back and pat him on the head; having
done which she rose and again went forward upon her charitable mission.

The flock by this time had eaten its way into the distance. It was not
so far away, however, but that she could soon have overtaken it. She
walked along at a moderate pace, looking alternately to right and left
for such as might fall