BLACK BEAK. 135 



advance into the field had even been proposed, and was 

 about to be executed, when the sheep made another 

 start, evidently intent on returning to the position we 

 found them in ; but as they passed a log out rushed 

 Bruin, and cut off the retreat of the hindermost. The 

 poor victim made two or three feeble efforts to regain 

 his fellows, then turned and looked his enemy in the 

 face, and from that moment succumbed to fate, at the 

 same time retaining the use of his legs. Nor did 

 Bruin rush up and seize him. He only headed him off 

 when inclined to turn out of the proper direction, 

 driving him all the time towards the right side of the 

 field, which edged on a piece of swamp. Soon the fence 

 was gained ; here the sheep's fortitude forsook him, 

 and as both landlord and self had followed as close in 

 rear as advisable, we were witnesses of a proceeding 

 almost incredible. Bruin was evidently in a magnani- 

 mous frame of mind, or was overcome by his natural 

 politeness, for without worrying or mauling, never for 

 a moment using his teeth, he picked up the poor 

 sheep between his paws, placed it on the top of the 

 rails, then pushed it over, and with the agility of a 

 greyhound cleared the fence himself. The shock 

 had roused the victim and reanimated him, for both 

 walked off into the bush, the one satisfied to be 

 driven, the other apparently a not over-exacting 



