In the Sierra 



feet, weather so steadily, faithfully calm and 

 bright and hospitable may anywhere else be 

 found. We are going away fearing destruc- 

 tive storms, though it is difficult to conceive 

 weather changes so great. 



Though the water is now low in the river, 

 the usual difficulty occurred in getting the 

 flock across it. Every sheep seemed to be in- 

 vincibly determined to die any sort of dry 

 death rather than wet its feet. Carlo has 

 learned the sheep business as perfectly as the 

 best shepherd, and it is interesting to watch 

 his intelligent efforts to push or frighten the 

 silly creatures into the water. They had to 

 be fairly crowded and shoved over the bank ; 

 and when at last one crossed because it could 

 not push its way back, the whole flock sud- 

 denly plunged in headlong together, as if 

 the river was the only desirable part of the 

 world. Aside from mere money profit one 

 would rather herd wolves than sheep. As soon 

 as they clambered up the opposite bank, they 

 began baaing and feeding as if nothing un- 

 [ 343 ] 



