I shut the window and dressed in haste; and when I
entered the kitchen, not even Betty, the earliest
of all early birds, was there. I raked the ashes
together a little, just to see a spark of warmth; and
then set forth to find John Fry, Jem Slocombe, and
Bill Dadds. But this was easier thought than
done; for when I opened the courtyard door, I was
taken up to my knees at once, and the power of the
drifting cloud prevented sight of anything. However,
I found my way to the woodrick, and there got hold
of a fine ash-stake, cut by myself not long ago.
With this I ploughed along pretty well, and thundered
so hard at John Fry’s door, that he thought
it was the Doones at least, and cocked his blunderbuss
out of the window.
John was very loth to come down, when he saw the meaning
of it; for he valued his life more than anything else;
though he tried to make out that his wife was to blame.
But I settled his doubts by telling him, that I would
have him on my shoulder naked, unless he came in five
minutes; not that he could do much good, but because
the other men would be sure to skulk, if he set them
the example. With spades, and shovels, and pitch-forks,
and a round of roping, we four set forth to dig out
the sheep; and the poor things knew that it was high
time.
CHAPTER XLII
THE GREAT WINTER
[Illustration: 358.jpg Illustrated Capital]
It must have snowed most wonderfully to have made
that depth of covering in about eight hours.
For one of Master Stickles’ men, who had been
out all the night, said that no snow began to fall
until nearly midnight. And here it was, blocking
up the doors, stopping the ways, and the water courses,
and making it very much worse to walk than in a saw-pit
newly used. However, we trudged along in a line;
I first, and the other men after me; trying to keep
my track, but finding legs and strength not up to
it. Most of all, John Fry was groaning; certain
that his time was come, and sending messages to his
wife, and blessings to his children. For all
this time it was snowing harder than it ever had snowed
before, so far as a man might guess at it; and the
leaden depth of the sky came down, like a mine turned
upside down on us. Not that the flakes were so
very large; for I have seen much larger flakes in a
shower of March, while sowing peas; but that there
was no room between them, neither any relaxing, nor
any change of direction.
Watch, like a good and faithful dog, followed us very
cheerfully, leaping out of the depth, which took him
over his back and ears already, even in the level
places; while in the drifts he might have sunk to any
distance out of sight, and never found his way up again.
However, we helped him now and then, especially through
the gaps and gateways; and so after a deal of floundering,
some laughter, and a little swearing, we came all
safe to the lower meadow, where most of our flock was
hurdled.
