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"I have been told they are only coravely, "but you ht Howbeit, they are not mine and I can

not leave theravely, while his , went on with their work "These are

Roman sheep, with the Flavian coat of arms and the mark of the army in

black on their hides--if you shear them But if you make away as fast

as you can I shall not tell Titus which way you went"

The sheep had started pell-mell toward the Roman road The decurion

turned back to his horse The shepherd released his dog, which ran

after the flock, and stepped into the decurion's way

"However these sheep look when they are sheared," he said, "this seeood-natured decurion exclaiot out of the cradle at two days to

establish Only he took Apollo's cattle while we are contenting

ourselves with the sheep of ant word!"

Meanwhile the sta in a cloud of dust back over

the road toward the west from which the Romans had come

"What shall I say to the citizens of Pella?" the little shepherd

shouted, pursuing the decurion as o

"Salute them for me," the decurion shouted back, "and make them my

obeisances, and say that I shall report on the flavor of the sheep by

into the decurion's way so suddenly that

the soldier almost fell over him

"Be fair!" the boy exclai patience and the shepherd had grown more than

ever serious