The long, green slope was broken by rocky scars and dotted by small Herdwick sheep that looked like scattered stones until they moved.

Then flock is weel under tally; I've lost two score Swinset Herdwicks, and the mak-up's next Thursday.

They were Herdwicks, a small, hardy breed that best withstands the rain and snow that sweep the high fells in the lambing season.

It was an awkward matter to find the sheep, and then the men and dogs had some difficulty to keep the ewes moving, because the Herdwick never willingly leaves the neighborhood where it was born and will, if possible, return.

Hayes was hard, and the Herdwicks must arrive in time to be tallied with the rest of Railton's flock.

The Herdwicks knew the weather and were heading for the sheltered dales.

The Herdwicks were strung out along the hillside, with a dog below and above, and it was comforting to know they could not leave the valley, which was shut in by rugged crags.

The Herdwicks were coming down and presently broke out from the snow in a compact, struggling flock.

However, there were the lambs; one could trust a Herdwick to return to its heaf.

In daylight, if the stones were dry, a man with steady nerves could use the path, but when slab and scree were packed with snow nothing but a Herdwick could cross it safely.

It was obvious that they did not mean to go down the ghyll, and Herdwicks born among the crags can climb where no dog can follow.

The Herdwicks knew the advantage was theirs on ground like this.

Now and then somebody shouted and dogs barked as a flock of Herdwicks was driven to the pens.

She had lain awake for the most part of the night, thinking about him and the strayed Herdwicks while she listened to the gale.

However, the arrival of the Herdwicks would make a difference, and he did not altogether give up hope.

"Kit's coming down the beck; he's brought the Herdwicks!"

Then dogs began to bark, somebody opened a gate, and a flock of Herdwicks, leaping out with wet fleeces shaking, and hoofs clicking on stone, ran across a shallow pool where the beck had overflowed.

could ha' browt Herdwicks doon Bleatarn ghyll last neet.

She threw a fresh light on matters the gossips already talked about; among others were Grace's visit to Mireside the morning Railton's sheep were counted and her meeting with Kit before he went to look for the Herdwicks.

He smiled as he reflected that he was like the Herdwicks that never forgot their native heaf; but while he longed for the red moors and straight-cut valleys he felt a stronger call.

"Ah," said Adam softly, "I often think about it too; the old house among the ash trees, and the Herdwicks feeding on the long slope behind.

Raising Herdwick sheep is a pretty tame occupation, but I reckon it's safer than backing Alvarez.

The ache in his arms had come from using the draining spade and his knees were stiff after a long walk through the heather to examine the Herdwick sheep.

He had not known Askew was a competitor and frowned as he saw Grace go up to him when a flock of Herdwicks entered the field.