WullycouldnothaveimaginedanygreaterbeingthanRobin, andyetforthesumoffiveshillingsaweekallRobin' svitalenergyandmentalforcewerepledgedtotheserviceofanotverygreatcattleandsheepdealer, therealproprietorofWully' scharge, andwhenthisman, reallylessgreatthantheneighboringlaird, orderedRobintodrivehisflockbystagestotheYorkshiremoorsandmarkets, ofallthe376mentalitiesconcerned, Wully' swasthemostinterestedandinteresting.
, andinspiteoftheirkeepersstampededthroughthetownin374differentdirections.
, thengavetheorder, "Wully, fetchthemin." Afterthismentalefforthesatdown, lithispipe, andtakingouthisknittingbeganworkonahalf-finishedsock.
ToWullythevoiceofRobinwasthevoiceofGod.Awayheranin374differentdirections, andheadedoffandroundedupthe374differentwanderers, andbroughtthembacktotheferry-housebeforeRobin, whowasstolidlywatchingtheprocess, hadtoedoffhissock.
FinallyWully—notRobin——370, 371, 372, 373.
"Wully," hesaidreproachfully, "tharno' a' ' sanither." AndWully, stungwithshame, , , andyetheknewthatWully' spridewouldpreventhiscomingbackwithoutanothersheep, , ? , itwasapitytolosehim, butthen, hisordersfromthemaster; andagain, ifWullystoleanextrasheeptomakeupthenumber, thenwhat—inaforeignlandtoo? HedecidedtoabandonWully, .
Meanwhile, , andatnight, famishedandwornout, hesneakedshamefacedlybacktotheferry, , thentooktheferryboatacrosstotheotherside, , , , .
Theferrymakesfiftytripsaday, withanaverageofonehundredpersonsatrip, yetneveroncedidWullyfailtobeonthegang-plankandsmelleverypairoflegsthatcrossed—5000pairs, , andthenext, andalltheweekhekepthispost, , andanyattempttointerferewithhisdailyoccupationofleg-smellingrousedhimtodesperation.
Dayafterday, weekafterweekWullywatchedandwaitedforhismaster, ' , andlivednooneknewhow, butstarvedtoitatlast, , hisheartwastruetohisworthlessmaster.
, , oncehefoundmylegswerenotthosehesought, andinspiteofmyfriendlyoverturesduringthetenmonthsfollowingthathecontinuedhiswatch, Igotnofartherintohisconfidencethananyotherstranger.
, notthedistancenorthechanceofgettinglost, buttheconvictionthatRobin, thegodlikeRobin, wishedhimtostaybytheferry; andhestayed.
, -plank—, thoughhistemperwasobviouslysouringunderthelongstrain.
WehadneverheardwhatbecameofRobin, butonedayasturdydroverstrodedowntheferry-slipandWullymechanicallyassayingthenewpersonality, suddenlystarted, hismanebristled, hetrembled, alowgrowlescapedhim, andhefixedhiseverysenseonthedrover.
Oneoftheferryhandsnotunderstanding, calledtothestranger, "Hootmon, yemaunnahortoordawg."
