to
do with sheep, they are, like every other animal, very interesting when
closely studied. I spent some years in their society in New South Wales
and know a little about them. Shortly before I left Ennis Creek ranch in
North-west Texas a very curious incident occurred, which I could never
quite satisfactorily explain, for I believe the most serious fright I
have ever had in all my life was caused by these same inoffensive,
innocent quadrupeds. It was not inflicted on me by a ram, which is
occasionally bellicose, but by ewes with their lambs, and I distinctly
remember being as surprised as if the sky had fallen or something
utterly opposed to all causation had confronted me. I want to meet a
man, even of approved courage, who would not be shocked into fair fright
by having half-a-dozen ewes suddenly turn and charge him with the fury
of a bullock's mad onset. Would he not gasp, be stricken dumb, and look
wide-eyed at the customary nature about him, just as if they had broken
into awful speech? I imagine he would, for I know that it shook my
nerves for an hour afterwards, even though I had by that time recovered
sufficient courage to experiment on them in order to see if the same
result would again follow. I had about 500 ewes and lambs under my care.
The day was warm, though the wind was blowing strongly, and when noon
approached the flock travelled but slowly towards the place where I
wished them to make their mid-day camp. To urge them on I took a large
bandana handkerchief and flicked the nearest to me with it as I walked
behind. As I did so the wind blew it strongly, and it suddenly occurred
to me to make a sort of a flag of it in order to see if it would
frighten them. I took hold of two corners and held it over my head, so
that it might blow out to its full extent. Now, whether it was due to
the glaring colour, or the strange attitude, or to the snapping of the
outer edge of the handkerchief in the wind--and I think it was the
last--I cannot say, but the hindmost ewes suddenly stopped, turned
round, eyed me wildly, and then half-a-dozen made a desperate charge,
struck me on the legs, threw me over, and fled precipitately as I fell.
It was a reversal of experience too unexpected! I lay awhile and looked
at things, expecting to see the sun blue at the least, and then I
gathered myself together slowly. In all seriousness I was never so taken
aback in all my life, and I was almost prepared for a ewe's biting me. I
reme