One day he tramped miles to recover a terrified mother and her baby. After this long walk, Alan sat on the hillside.
Meanwhile the new dog looked at him out of the corner of his eye, and dropped his tail because he was ashamed.
As the shepherd sat smoking, he saw his son coming toward him, followed by Roy. Ian threw himself down beside his father. Letting his head sink upon the shepherd's knee, he gave up the search.
"'Tis weary I am, Father," he sighed. "The search is over, and my wee lamb is gone."
IAN GIVES UP THE SEARCH
"And your pipes, Ian? Are they to be lost, too?" queried the shepherd.
"Ay," answered his son, "for Sandy said, 'If you tend the wee creature well till spring!' Now Sandy will return in the spring, and there'll be no creature."
For a few moments Alan Craig smoothed Ian's curly black hair. The boy tried hard to hold back his sobs, which were nearly choking him.
Then Alan Craig spoke. "Ian, lad, have you not heard the story of Bruce and the spider?"