37 



"Out of what?" I snapped gently. 

 "Sheep." I think his expression 

 would have showed surprise if it 

 could have penetrated the layer of 

 dirt on his visage. "They are some 

 distance off on the right, must be 

 several thousands!" 



I had not seen a thing. But now 

 I heard voices, muffled sounds and 

 bleats. So this particular brand of 

 smell and this deluge of dust meant 

 ' ' sheep. ' ' We were on the necessary 

 thoroughfare for these poor beasts to 

 reach higher pasture lands. They 

 were making a forced march in order 

 to get food, for this region had al- 

 ready been devastated by their pre- 

 decessors. The streams were defiled, 

 the vegetation gone, nothing but dust 

 and ruin. 



Just then, a darting ball of red 

 shot into the road, turned toward us 

 one end from which two gleaming 

 eyes shone, the other end was stiff 

 for an instant and then waggled. 



"Oh, you poor little doggie, what 

 a sight you are! " It gave two short 

 barks and several hard waggles and 

 was off. "That is the sheep herders' 

 mainstay," said Silverton, "the dog 



