§ 349 The Curious Ways of Sheep
They tell this story on Charlie Russell, Montana’s famous cowboy painter, who by a very great many is regarded as Frederic Remington’s successor as the greatest delineator of Western life. Probably it isn’t true, because Russell, as an old cow hand, naturally would have the utmost contempt for all phases of the sheep-growing industry; but as the story goes, he once fell upon hard times and in this emergency accepted a position as herder for a sheep man.
Now, Russell knew about all there was to know about beef cattle and about horses but his education regarding the ways and habits of sheep had been neglected. All the same, he went out on the range with a flock of woolly baa-baas. Ten days passed, and he returned to headquarters to replenish his supply of provisions. The boss met him at the ranch-house.
“Well, Charlie,” he asked, “how goes it?”
“Oh, all right,” said Russell.
“Satisfied with your new job, eh?” pressed the employer.
“I guess so,” said Russell. “But if you want me to keep on working for you there’s one thing you’ll have to do.”
“What’s that?”
“You’ll have to get another lot of sheep. That first bunch has done lit out on you.”