28 BRITISH QUADRUPEDS. 



weaker ones were in the rear, not one of them eating, 

 but looking sternly at me. I was not at first afraid, 

 knowing them to be only sheep ; and yet I was not per- 

 fectly easy, for if any fox appeared, they might kill me 

 in chasing him. These sheep had been sent into the 

 mountain in April or May, when the owners seldom 

 look after them till October. When they gather them- 

 selves together at night, one of them is always placed 

 at a little distance as a sentinel. They never descend 

 into the valley at night, or rest in any low and sheltered 

 place, but even in the most stormy weather they are 

 on the top of the hill or on rising ground ; and if they 

 are attacked by foxes or dogs, their assailants rarely 

 fail to pay for their temerity with their lives. Seeing 

 them, however, in this warlike array, I began gradually 

 to feel a little alarm, and deeming discretion to be the 

 better part of valour, I slowly retired. As the distance 

 between us increased, their line was neither so straight 

 nor compact ; but I stopped, and again advanced a few 

 steps towards them ; they looked steadily at me, and 

 formed their line with greater precision and closeness ; 

 and had I attempted to attack them, I am convinced 

 that they would have resisted. I had once a great 

 mind to try, but I confess that my courage failed 

 me when I observed them seemingly bending their 



