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Gentleman's Magazine 1890 part 1 p.532
to work the dogs in relays. A brace are taken out one day
and rest the next. But at times of gathering for washing or
shearing this plan is not always practicable, and all the
dogs are working at once. Upon one such occasion, when a
week of hard work had left an intelligent little bitch only
two legs to run upon, she disappeared in a bracken bed under
the crags. Thence she was not seen to emerge, nor could she
be found. It was afterwards dscovered that she had brought
forth five puppies, each of which she carried separately in
her mouth a distance of five miles, returning, of course,
over the same distance. Her treasures she snugly stowed away
among the hay in the old barn.
I have said that it is at the time of gathering in the sheep
for washing or shearing that the dogs are hardest worked.
When a fine spring has reduced the fell "becks" and the
clear water lies deep in the pools, then it is that the
washing of the sheep takes place. The water is now tepid;
and by the side of the deepest pool a bit of bright turf is
encircled by wooden hurdles, and a fold constructed. The
shepherds have been out on the fells through the short
summer night, and now down the corries long lines of sheep
are seen approaching, though all converging to the rugged
mountain road. The sheep and shepherds 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 wome women. Sorting the sheep and depriving
them of their lambs is gone through, the scene being
meanwhile most animated - men shouting, dogs barking, sheep
stamping and fighting the dogs, whilst others lightly top
the hurdles, and attempt to make back to the fells. Two
strapping yeomen wade into the pool to their middle, and the
business of the day commences. The washing of six hundred
sheep means a long summer's day work; and now all exert
themselves to the utmost. Two men take each sheep by both
hands and heave it into the pool. Here it is caught by the
washers, well soused, and 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 awhile, but soon begins to nibble
the short herbage. During the whole of this time a constant
bleating is kept up between the lambs and their dams; nor
does it cease until they are brought together after the
washing, when they are driven back to the fells. By this
time every one engaged in the day's work has imbibed much
strong ale; but hard work has rendered them none the worse
for their deep draughts. Seeing the sheep sprinkled over the
fells a few days after this, their coats are observed to be
whiter and the wool more "fleecy."
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