REDPAD THE FOX 
37 
end of the wood, over the fields, and then rises 
again to meet the moor. Hence, from the wall, 
Redpad could look down into the field where the 
sheep dwelt. He saw the whole flock a grey 
mass in the twilight collected in a corner ; and 
listening, it seemed to him that he heard a shrill 
yelp. However, it was not repeated, and as he 
winded nothing unusual, for the night air was 
damp and chilled the scent, he continued his way. 
Night after night he went to the moor by the 
same path over the wall, and across the little 
field where the sheep grazed among the stones. 
Here he suddenly crossed a line from which the 
Fur Folk usually turn the line of fresh blood ; 
and among the dwarfed gorse he found the body 
of a young lamb. At that moment the sheep 
stampeded, and one lamb, breaking from the 
flock, bounded hither and thither among the rocks 
with the agility of despair. As it leaped, something 
small and dark sprang beside it. There was a wicked 
snarl, a piteous stifled bleat, and the lamb was 
dragged headlong into the furze. Redpad waited 
no longer, but cantered back to the wood. If 
something was worrying the sheep, this was no 
safe place for him. 
When Jack Skehan 
came up at eight o'clock, 
