132 NATURE AND WOODCRAFT. 



are seen approaching, all converging on the 

 rugged mountain road. The sheep and shep- 

 herds are met by a group of fell folk who have 

 come to assist. These are the 'Statesmen and 

 their sons, dalesmen from the next valley, 

 neighbouring herds, and often some women. 

 Sorting the sheep and depriving them of their 

 lambs is gone through, the scene meanwhile 

 being most animated — men shouting, dogs bark- 

 ing, sheep stamping and fighting the dogs, 

 while others lightly top the hurdles and attempt 

 to make back to the fells. 



Two strapping yeoman wade into the water 

 to their middle, and the business of the day 

 commences. The washing of six hundred sheep 

 means, a long summer day's work; and now 

 all exert themselves to the utmost. Two men 

 take each sheep with both hands and heave 

 it into the pool. Here it is caught by the 

 washers, well soused, then allowed to swim 

 to the opposite bank, where for a moment it 

 stands dripping, then moves off to the sunny 

 sward. Weighted with water, the creature is 

 stunned for a while, but soon begins to nibble 

 the short herbage. During the whole of this 

 time a constant bleating is kept up between the 



