As one would expect, considering his views on competence and individualism, Westall presents his teen-aged protagonist as an enormously capable young man who has grown up a very hard worker. His father having died at an early age, Ralph works virtually full time as a shepherd for the lazy and not particularly competent Jack Norton.

The boy's days are spent herding sheep, running a highly competent pair of sheepdogs, and taking care of whatever other chores he is left with by the often half-soused Norton. When working on the fells, Ralph carries a container of foul-smelling Stockholm tar with him which he puts on the various cuts and injuries of the sheep in order to protect his charges from infection and parasites. He does this unpleasant task on a regular basis, not because he has been told to, but because he sees it as...