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you would not find as much wool as would make a thread on a sheep when I have done with it.’

“‘You are the man for my business,’ replied the old shepherd. ‘When the moon rises, I will call the flock you have to shear. Till then sit down and rest, and take your supper out of my wallet.’

“Clutch and Kind gladly sat down by him among the violets, and, opening a leathern bag which hung by his side, the old man gave them cakes and cheese, and a horn cup to drink from at a stream hard by. The brothers felt fit for any work after that meal; and Clutch rejoiced in his own mind at the chance he had got for showing his skill with the shears. ‘Kind will see how useful it is to cut close,’ he thought to himself: but they sat with the old man, telling him the news of the plain, till the sun went down and the moon rose, and all the snow-white sheep gathered and laid themselves down behind him. Then he took his pipe and played a merry tune, when immediately there was heard a great howling, and up the hills came a troop of shaggy wolves, with hair so long that their eyes could scarcely be seen. Clutch would have fled for fear, but the wolves stopped, and the old man said to him—

“‘Rise, and shear—this flock of mine have too much wool on them.’