WILD SHEEP. 101 



These wild sheep, remember, have no great 

 open plains over which to gallop away, where it 

 does not so much matter if they are in a com- 

 pact body, directly following their leader, or no. 

 But they have to escape mostly along narrow 

 ledges cut in mountain sides, and so their wisest 

 plan is to collect together in a dense long body 

 and to faithfully follow the lead of their leader. 



In that rushing, headlong flight, with a pack 

 of hungry enemies at their heels, the flock were 

 compelled to follow every movement of their 

 leader, whether that movement was in direction, 

 speed, or leap. 



While scurrying up and down these steep 

 places, broken here and there with yawning 

 chasms and deep ravines, the individual sheep 

 had no time to look and judge for itself. 



In the most perfect imitation of their leader 

 lay their safety, and woe betide that flock whose 

 leader wavered and faltered, w r hose judgment 

 was at fault, and whose nerve and speed were 

 not at their best. 



Wild Habits Still Linger. 



If we notice carefully our domesticated sheep 

 we shall observe that they retain many interest- 

 ing habits that were useful to their wild ances- 

 tors, but which of course can serve no useful 

 purpose now. 



