ical Version).

It was at the ford of the Clachlands Water in a tempestuous August,
that I, an idle boy, first learned the hardships of the Lammas droving.
The shepherd of the Redswirehead, my very good friend, and his three
shaggy dogs, were working for their lives in an angry water. The path
behind was thronged with scores of sheep bound for the Gledsmuir
market, and beyond it was possible to discern through the mist the few
dripping dozen which had made the passage. Between raged yards of
brown foam coming down from murky hills, and the air echoed with the
yelp of dogs and the perplexed cursing of men.

Before I knew I was helping in the task, with water lipping round my
waist and my arms filled with a terrified sheep. It was no light task,
for though the water was no more than three feet deep it was swift and
strong, and a kicking hogg is a sore burden. But this was the only
road; the stream might rise higher at any moment; and somehow or other
those bleating flocks had to be transferred to their fellows beyond.
There were six men at the labour, six men and myself and all were
cross and wearied and heavy with water.

I made my passages side by side with my friend the shepherd, and
thereby felt much elated. This was a man who had dwelt all his days in
the wilds and was familiar with torrents as with his own doorstep. Now
and then a swimming dog would bark feebly as he was washed against us,
and flatter his fool's heart that he was aiding the work. And so we
wrought on, till by midday I was dead-beat, and could scarce stagger
through the surf, while all the men had the same gasping faces. I saw
the shepherd look with longing eye up the long green valley, and mutter
disconsolately in his beard.

"Is the water rising?" I asked.

"It's no rising," said he, "but I likena the look o' yon big black clud
upon Cairncraw. I doubt there's been a shoor up the muirs, and a shoor
there means twae mair feet o' water in the Clachlands. God help Sandy
Jamieson's lambs, if there is."

"How many are left?" I asked.

"Three, fower,--no abune a score and a half," said he, running his eye
over the lessened flocks. "I maun try to tak twae at a time." So for
ten minutes he struggled with a double burden, and panted painfully at
each return. Then with a sudden swift look up-stream he broke off and
stood up. "Get ower the water, every yin o' ye, and leave the sheep,"
he said, and to my wonder every man of the five ob