In sickness or in trouble of any kind the people for miles around had long since come to depend upon the shepherd of Mutton Hollow. The old man turned now to the doctor. “Someone needs me, David. We must go with the boy.”
“But, Daniel, Daniel! Blast it all! The boy’s not responsible. Where will he take us? Where do you want us to go, boy?”
“Not me; not me; nobody can’t go nowhere, can they? You go with Pete, Mister.”
“Yes, yes; go with Pete; but where will Pete take us?” persisted the Doctor.
“Pete knows.”
“Now, look at that, Daniel! Look at that. Blast it all; we ought not go; not in the night this way. What would Sarah and the girls say?” Notwithstanding his protests, the doctor was ready even before the shepherd. “Take a gun, Daniel; take a gun, at least,” he said.
The other hesitated, then asked, “Does Pete want Dad to take a gun?”
The youth, who stood in the doorway waiting impatiently, shook his head and laughed, “No, no; nothing can’t get Dad where Pete goes. God he’s there just like Dad says.”
“It’s all right, David,” said the shepherd with conviction. “Pete knows. It is safe to trust him to-night.”
And the boy echoed, as he started forward, “It’s alright, Mister; Pete knows.”