a stop.

"Oh!" cried Bess and Belle together, and Bess, who was driving, jammed on
the foot and emergency brake quicker than she ever had in her life before.
As it was her fender struck the rear tires of Cora's car.

"Oh dear!" wailed Eline, clutching at Cora, while Belle, recovering from
her momentary fright, had the presence of mind to raise her arm in the air
as a signal for the boys to come to a halt.

"Cora Kimball!" cried Bess. "What did you stop so suddenly for, and not
signal us? We might have broken your car!"

"I'm sorry. But I just thought of something, so didn't think of
signalling. Any damage done?"

"No, but there might have been."

"All right then. Will you please come here?" she called to the man. "I
want to speak to you--that is, if the sheep will be all right."

"Yes, miss, the dogs will look after 'em," and, calling a command to the
intelligent collies, he advanced toward Cora's car.

CHAPTER VI

JACK IS LOST

"How many sheep have you?" asked Cora.

"Well, there's just a hundred and ten, miss. I had a hundred and 'leven,
but one died on me," the man explained.

"What is this--a class in arithmetic?" inquired Jack, who had left his
car and come up to where his sister sat in hers.

"Now, Jack--please----" she said.

"And how much farther does this road go before----"

"The road doesn't go--it stays right here!" chuckled her brother.

"Stop it!" she commanded in such a tone that he knew she meant it.

"How far before there is a cross-road into which you could turn your
sheep?" went on Cora, fixing the man with what Jack said afterward was
"a cold and fishy glance."

"A matter of four mile, miss."

"I thought so. Then we'd have to tag along behind you all that distance,
losing time, and----"

"To say nothing of swallowing all that dust!" exclaimed Belle, pointing
to a cloud of it that hung over the flock of sheep, which the dogs were
skillfully herding. "Oh, it's awful!"

"That's why I've thought of a way out," spoke Cora.

"Then _out_ with it, Sis!" exclaimed the irrepressible Jack. Once more his
sister turned her attention to him--this time it was only a look, but it
sufficed.

"Do you see that field over there?" asked Cora of the sheep man, pointing
to one rich and luxuriant in deep, green grass.

"Yes, miss, I see it," and he pointed with the stem of his pipe to be sure
he made no mistake.

"Yes. Well, now, could you take your sheep in there, and keep
them--er-