"Damn!" "Blast!" "Ah, there you are." " Siegfried, for heaven's sake!" "I need you ready to leave in five minutes." "What time is it?" " Gone six, I should imagine." "For heaven's sake!" "Stop whining, Tristan, and get on with it." "We've got work to do." "Careful." "Can't you ask James?" "James has a cracked ankle." "He'd be useless." "Come on now." "Go on, out!" "Out!" "Shoo!" " All right." "And quick about it, we've got a long stint ahead of us." "Am I allowed to know what's wrong?" "You've met Rob Benson's flock of half-breds before?" "Er, yes, James and I dealt with his ewes last year." "Why?" "Grim work." "Dog got among 'em, worried the flock." "They're lying dead and dying all over the Ridge." "Strewth!" " Go on!" "You've got three minutes left." "Dead some time, I'm afraid." "Throat ripped out." "What's the tally?" " Three dead." "Sorry, Mr Benson." "Reckon I knowed it." " The others?" "There's no sign of a wound yet they're all down." "They are alive?" " Just about." "Sheep were run till they lost the will to live." "I reckon they'll die an' all." "They're not dead yet, Mr Benson." "Took me 15 years to build that stock up." "Tristan." "See this?" " Discharge from the nostrils?" "Yes, and this almost drunken nodding of the head." "Check the breathing." "Well, you're the student." "What's going on?" "Strange." "Symptoms suggest..." " Go on." "No." "Couldn't be." "You have some intensely irritating habits." "It couldn't be, um..." " What?" "Calcium deficiency, could it?" "Well, is it?" "That only happens after ewes have lambed." "No, they've been subjected to sudden stress and exertion" "Brilliant, Siegfried!" " Where's the calcium?" "There we are." "See what I said, Mr Benson?" "They're not dead yet." "Oh, aye?" "Apart from the three that were pulled down, the rest are just suffering from calcium deficiency." "Could've been worse." " Aye, Mr Farnon." "It could at that." "Right, then." "How many sheep did Benson lose?" "Three." "Rest were about to peg out." "Mr Herriot?" " No, thank you." "I'll cut your fingers off!" " What was wrong with the sheep?" "It was very difficult to put a finger on it but I spotted it - derangement of the parathyroid." "That was clever, wasn't it?" " Yes, well done." "Mind you, it wasn't easy." " l should say not!" "Fighting against the clock, with the fate of dozens of pregnant ewes in the balance, a wrong diagnosis could prove fatal." "But you saved the flock." " Thank you." "Siegfried did his bit too." "One doesn't like to hog all the praise." " No." "Morning, Mr Farnon." "Lovely day, isn't it?" "I'd say it was a filthy day." "This wretched snow will make it worse." "Someone's been losing their beauty sleep!" "You what?" "Occasionally I wish young Mary was still here." "Tristan described your dawn exploits." "Yes." "Damn shame you weren't with us." " Yes, sorry about that." "I thought we managed rather well." "You can't compare a student with a qualified man." "And to think I got out of bed!" "With a student one has to explain one's every move." "It takes time, you see." "That's a jolly unfair thing to say." "Yes." "Well, time for work." " Quite." "James, sit down, won't you?" " Hm?" "Um..." "You did your best, Tristan." " Thank you." "But with James we'd have been back in half the time." "I'll remind you of that the next night call we get." "It was James' fault." " My fault?" "!" "Careless, getting kicked by that idiot horse." "I think the horse is to blame!" " A horse isn't intelligent like you." "All that farmer did was see if it had damaged its pastern." "That's what I want to know, how is it?" "Nothing wrong with it." " James... your ankle!" "Oh!" "Well, it's still a bit tender, I'm afraid." "Do you feel up to coping with surgery?" "Yes, I can hobble through it." " Right." "Tristan, you and I deal with the visits." "So I am of some use." " Now, stop slouching!" "Listen, with lambing time coming on I advise you to cancel your social life, all right?" "You know, that boy's shaping up to be a first-class vet." "I think he might like to hear you tell him that some time." "Tell him?" "!" " Mm." "He's conceited enough as it is." "I wish you'd seen how he handled himself this morning." "The Farnon blood, James." " Breeding will out." "Thank you, Mrs Haseldean." " Thank you so much." "Bye-bye." "Who's beautiful?" "Next, please!" "Come on." "Sit." "Sit." "Good dog." "Farnon about, is he?" " l'm afraid not, no." "Herriot, isn't it?" "Sit still or I'll show you a whupping." "Roderick Perowne, I expect you've heard of me. I live at Cairn Top Ridge." "Of course." "Very pleased to meet you." "I never shake hands, I can't abide empty bourgeois gestures." "I want you to look at my dog." " Fine." "Right then." " No, I shouldn't do that!" "Sligo's trained to chew any hand he's offered." "I see." "Well, perhaps you can get him onto the table?" "Here, Sligo." "Come here." "Oh..." "Blast!" "Come here." "You miserable, disloyal sack of bones." "Look what you've done!" "Your hand all right?" " l suppose so." "Right..." "Well, I'd better examine Sligo." "Look at his chest, got himself a filthy gash there somehow." "Oh, that's nasty." "Looks like barbed wire or something." "Poisonous stuff." " When did it happen?" "Can't say." "Wretched dog's been missing for days." "I've a good mind to give him a flogging." "Would you hold his head?" " Aye." "I order you to sit still, hm?" "Stray often, does he?" " First time since I've had him." "Would you hold him tightly?" "He's under orders." "He won't budge." "Ah!" "Blast!" " lt's all right, no damage." "I won't accept bad manners from humans or from animals." "He's a very fine animal." "Yes, I agree." "I got him from Wales." "D'you know what those degenerate farmers do when a working dog is six or seven?" "I don't know that part of the world." "They shoot them." "Perfectly healthy animal." "Can you imagine it?" " Yes, I had heard it happens." "Would you hold him very tightly, please?" "One of those degenerates shot Sligo, made a hash of it so I thrashed him and took the dog." "You must be fond of Sligo." " l loathe all animals." "Humans too." "But I refuse to stand by and see living things needlessly suffer." "Ah, Tristan, your turn to man the telephone, right?" "I was hoping James would." " Abandon hope!" "You're on stand-by, agreed?" " But Siegfried..." "Agreed?" "James!" "." "Brave Benbow lost his leg by chain shot!" "By chain shot!" "." "How's it going?" " Just one more." "Your friend Roderick Perowne was in." "The hatter?" "He's a rare sight these days." "He is a bit odd, isn't he?" " lt's all that solitude." "Unhinges a man who lives in the middle of nowhere on Cairn Top." "Really rather dotty I sometimes think." "I was surprised we haven't met." "Not really, James." "Where the hell...?" "Ah." "He believes he hates everyone and everything - that's what he thinks he believes." "I'm going to be late." "James?" " Yes?" "Take care." "Come on, Jack." "Hello, Mr Marston." " Mr Herriot." "I've brought Jack in to see you." "Hello, Jack!" "What have you been up to, eh?" "He tore his front paw summat bad." "Oh, let's have a look, Jack." "Good dog." "That's a bit messy, isn't it?" "Right on the dewclaw." "How did it happen?" "Can't rightly say, must have done it on his walk." "We'll soon fix him up." "Could you get him onto the table?" "Thanks." "They're a damn nuisance, dewclaws." "I'd have them all off at birth." "You're right there." " Mrs Marston well, is she?" "Aye, settled into Darrowby now." "Oh, good." "It's all right, Jack, old thing, this won't hurt a bit." "Up you come." "That's a good dog." "Oops-a-daisy." "All right?" " Steady, Jack." "Darrowby's different to Leeds, isn't it?" "I were born in t'Dales, Mr Herriot." "I never realised that." "Always knew I'd come back." "Saved all our lives to make sure." "is your wife a country girl?" " Leeds born and bred." "She couldn't tell t'difference between cow and horse before." "I'm not sure she knows yet." "." "Oh, brave Benbow lost his legs" "." "And all on his stumps he begs" "." "Fight on, my English lads" "." "Fight on, fight on... ." "Ah!" "Brave Benbow!" "A quiet watch I trust, Admiral?" "Aye aye, sir." " Good, good, good." "James." " Hm?" "Are the...the others about?" "Helen's having a bath and Tristan is swotting." "Good." "I've been meaning to have a quiet word with you, James." "Yes, of course." "James, fancy a little...?" "Oh." "Siegfried." " No calls to disturb the studies?" "No, it's all yours, all right?" " Certainly, old boy." "Er, Tristan, look...why don't you, er, whip up some cocoa or something, hm?" "Just what I was about to suggest." "James?" "Oh, yes, please." "James!" "James..." " Mm." "This arrangement you have, you and Helen... I mean the room, the attic upstairs." "What about it?" "How satisfactory is it, really?" "It's fine, Siegfried." "Fine." "Come on, no need to hold back." " We're perfectly happy." "Really." "I'm sorry, I can't agree with you." "Ah." "You don't think things are working out?" "You know how I hate to put my nose into things that aren't strictly my business..." " Mm!" "Well, those rooms - no heating, they're leaky, draughty." "It's a pretty bleak prospect, isn't it?" "We're not at all aware of it." "I'm gonna spend some money, really make 'em decent." "Huh?" "I'm not sure it's a good idea at the moment." "What?" "!" "Helen's got a few ideas of her own, you know, colours." "But I am deeply grateful for the offer." "What offer?" " Um..." "Tristan's offered to whip up some cocoa." "Oh, a grand idea." "Tristan, make a cup for me too!" "You're looking very fetching." "I haven't seen that before." "Oh, I'll get it." "Thank you, darling." " She's an angel." "Hello, Darrowby eight-five." "No, but this is Mr Farnon's surgery." "Who's speaking?" "You can tell me, Mr...?" "Oh, Mr lngledew!" "Hello!" "How are you?" "This is Mrs Herriot." "No, Mrs Herriot." "You know, Helen Alderson from Earlsdale?" "What can Mr Farnon do for you, Mr lngledew?" "No" " Mrs." ""Are you a miss?"" "Oh!" "A ewe amiss!" "If you'll just hold on a moment." "Hello?" "Mr lngledew?" "That was Harold lngledew." " Oh?" "He says he has a ewe amiss." "What?" "!" "You hear that, James?" "!" "Who was it?" " A ewe amiss!" "Lambing time is with us again!" "Just think of that, the din in the lambing pens, the bass rumble of the ewes, the bleat of the lambs, the end of winter!" "Who did you say it was?" " Harold lngledew." "Oh, good grief." "Said it was urgent, did he?" " Yes, he did." "Tristan, there might be some profit in discussing whose turn it is to go out tonight." "Oh, no discussion, it's yours." " Strictly speaking, yes, but don't you think perhaps that, er, these late calls are just the thing for a conscientious student?" "Sorry, off to bed." "Good night all." "Night, Tris." " l just... lt won't be as bad as all that." "The bass rumble of the ewes, the bleating of the lambs, that kind of thing." "Harold lngledew." "." "Though the heart be weary... ." "It's me!" "Come on, come on out!" "Come and let me in!" "It's me, Harold." "I've come to see your sheep." "Oh, aye." "Well, I'll just get me boots on first." "Come on." "Come on, Harold, for...!" "Come on!" "Oh, come on, for the twenty-fifth time!" "." "We could go on loving in the spring... ." "Where the hell's this ewe of yours?" "!" "She not here, Mr Farnon." "She's o'er at top building." "Right on up at the end of the road?" "!" "Aye, I called in on the way home from work." "She'll be crow bait if we don't hurry up." "Crow bait, for sure." "We shall need warm water, soap and a towel." "You get them, I'll start the engine." "Right you are, Mr Farnon." " And get a move on, you...!" "And bring a lamp, Harold!" ". ..in this world today" "." "We could go on loving... ." "." "You are my heart's desire" "." "l love you" "." "Nellie ." "'Ey up, in there!" "." "You are my heart's desire ." "Right." "." "l love you" "." "Nellie ." "Bring the water, Harold, what's left of it!" "There's a good girl." "You be quiet now, baby." "Out of the way, little one." "." "She's my lady love" "." "She's my queen" "." "My turtledove" "." "She's no...!" "." "I'm sorry about the water, Mr Farnon!" "Get some more if you please, Harold." "." "She's my lady love ." "For Pete's sake bring me that piece of soap!" "." "She's my queen" "." "My turtledove" "." "She's no girl" "." "For sitting down to dream" "." "She's the only... ." "." "l know she likes me... ." "I think... I think it's laid wrong." "Aye." " Let's see what we can do now." "I knew something was amiss..." " Hold her steady!" "Hold her steady." "Come on, old lady." "T'old lady'll help you, just ask her nicely." "Thank you for your advice." " ." "She's my lady love" "." "She is my queen, my turtledove ." "All right, old lady." " ." "She's no girl" "." "For sitting down to dream, she's the... ." "Shut up, will you?" " . ..only queen Laguna knows ." "Here she comes, nicely, nicely." "." "l know she likes me" "." "Oh, yes, she likes me" "." "Because she said so" "." "She is my lily of..." "Laguna ." "Come on now, love." "Come on now, love." "Let her head go, please." "Come on, mother, look, look, look." "There you go." "There you go." "Right." " That's it, that's it." "." "She's my lady love ." " That's it." "." "She is my queen, my turtledove ." "." "She's... ." "Will you please get some more water, Harold?" "." "She's the only queen... ." "I'm growing awfully tired of your singing." "So would you kindly..." "SHUT UP!" "Water, if you please, Harold." "Water." "Right you are, Mr Farnon." "I should leave it a little while, it'll soon melt." "Well, I must be off." "." "l'll walk beside you ." "Sorry, Mr Farnon." "Hello, Tris." " l'll finish if you like." "I'm not a complete wreck, you know." "Go on, have a rest." " No." "Where's Siegfried?" " Benson's." "His sheep were attacked again." " Oh, no." "James, Mr Marston wants you to see Jack again, shall I make an appointment?" " Oh, yes, I suppose so." "No, wait a minute..." "Tell him I'll go out myself, straightaway." "That won't do your ankle much good." "I'm fed up with hanging around the house." "Oh, and darling..." " Mm?" "Bring the car around, would you?" "Oh, all right." " Thank you." "The Farnons are having all the fun." "I've been hauled out in sub-zero temperatures four times!" "Never mind, Tris, it's all yours here now." "Oh." "Um..." "Oh." "No, thanks." "Good morning." "It's t'veterinary and his wife." "Ooh!" "Come in, Mr Herriot." " Thank you." "Thank you for coming, Mr Herriot." "I was quite happy to come to surgery." "I felt like a break, Mr Marston." "You both know my wife Helen." " Aye." "Good of you to come." "I wanted you to look at Jack, Mr Herriot." "His paw's all right, isn't it?" " Seemed to be, and then..." "Let t'vet see it." "Mr Herriot'll know if summat's not right." "Aye. I'll fetch him." "Won't be a minute." "All right." "Go on in, won't you?" "I'm just putting t'kettle on." "Thank you." " Can I help, Mrs Marston?" "Means the world to my man, does that dog." "Mind you, only natural, in't it?" "Years those two have spent together." "Course, he's getting a bit past it now." "Still, aren't we all?" "Come on, Jack, come on." " Oh, you poor thing!" "There you are, Jack." "Let Mr Herriot see to you now." "Come on, Jack." " Come on." "Sit." "You've kept him on a lead, have you?" "Nothing strenuous, as you said." "He's torn it in exactly the same place." "I can't see how. I've been exercising him myself." "He'll have to have this dewclaw taken off." "It might be a good idea to keep him indoors." "He don't like to sleep in." " He has to be kept restrained." "At least until the stitching comes out." "Aye, if you say so, Mr Herriot." "Thank you, darling." "At least it was a clean kill, Mr Benson." "You didn't get a look at the dog, I suppose?" "No." "One good thing - the ewes in lamb were left alone this time." "I thought it was best to keep 'em close to t'house." "Have you told the police?" " Aye." "But it's not t'police what'll sort this one out, Mr Farnon." "It's this 12 bore, here." "I understand how you feel." "It's not an unusual occurrence at this time of year." "A dog gets into the pasture, picks up the blood from premature croppings." "It's happened before." "There's only one thing to do with sheep killers." "Right." "Let me know when the lambing gets underway." "Aye." "Ghastly business, sheep killing." " Yes." "When a man has spent half a lifetime building up his animals." "Whose dog was responsible?" "They haven't seen it but it's a marked dog, you can be sure." "These Dale farmers exist on a knife edge as it is." "This sort of thing could finish a man like Benson." "The others ready?" " l think so, yes." "Tristan!" "Bet you're glad to be out of it this year, eh?" "Lambing's my favourite time." " lsn't it just?" "Sorry you're not up to it." " Just my luck." "Tristan, got the list?" " Yes." "Helen and I will deal with all lambing up to Earlsfell, the rest's up to you." " Right." "Mrs Hall!" "Good luck, Tris." " Thank you." "Mrs Hall!" " l heard you the first time, Mr Farnon." "Apart from surgery here, all other business is postponed till after lambing, got that?" "It's third time you've told me." "I've made a list of the other numbers." "Excellent, Helen." "James?" " Yes?" "Look after yourself." " Thanks." "Bye, darling." " Bye." "Bye!" "Lambing time again, eh?" " Aye, enjoy yourself." "Make sure you keep the dogs indoors!" "Back in the kitchen, come on, you lot!" "Any of you in here?" "No." "Ah, Mr Perowne." "Come in, please." "Thank you. I shan't be staying." "I need your help." "Yes, of course." "What can I do?" "Wretched dog." "Mindless, pea-brained canine." "I warned it!" " What's wrong, Mr Perowne?" "My dog, it's run off again." " How long has he been gone?" "Day I brought him to see you, four days ago." "Twice in a fortnight." "I thought he might have returned." "Have you tried all the usual places?" "Police, RSPCA, that kind of thing?" "That's why I'm here, I... don't know how to deal with that kind of thing." "I'll be happy to do it for you, Mr Perowne." "That's decent of you." " Oh, no." "Shan't happen again." "A sound thrashing on a regular basis should make him toe the line." "Wandering around in this weather with his chest open - it defies logic." "Well, logic has very little to do with it." "An instinctive thing is drawing him away." "That's all I came to ask. I'll be off." "It's a bit of a hike, have a drink first." "Thank you." "But no." "Thank you." "There we are, then." "Let's have her up." "Come on, old lady." "There you go." "Come on, then." "Come on." "Come on." "There you are." "There you are, then." "There's another one in there." "How long?" "If we're lucky...another ten minutes." "Can you spare a minute, Mr Farnon?" "Right, yes." "Stay with her, Helen." "Mother won't have him." "Rejected him, she has." "Perfectly all right with his brother." "Aye, but she's taken spite to this poor little beggar." "Determined little fellow, isn't he?" "Aye." "He's like my youngest lad Herbert." "Puts his head down and gets stuck in." "Just like this little fella." "I reckon he'll have to be hand reared along with the orphans and pets." "He seems too independent for that." " Siegfried!" "Number three's on the way!" " Right!" "Coming." "Only 25 needed assistance." "I'll see to it" " Very impressive." "I managed 45 lambs from 60 ewes." "Bravo, Tristan!" "Well done!" "The farmers mucked in a bit." "I often think they know more about it than we do." "That were Mr Barton." "Says his flock have started cropping." "Right, tell him I'll be with him at about... eight o'clock, will you, Mrs Hall?" " Right, Mr Farnon." "Three more visits." "Unless Mrs Herriot is weakening?" "My father kept a thousand sheep and if you think..." "You can manage till then?" "All right." "I'll get the car ready." " You're a brick." "Tristan." "I'll give you a hand." "Well, James, that's it and all about it." " l saw your friend Perowne today." "I'd love to see the old hatter." "What did he want?" "His dog's strayed, he wanted help." "Sounds like Hatter." "How long's his dog been missing?" "This time, about four days." " He's strayed before?" "Twice in a fortnight." "Oh, my God, the sheep attacks." " Exactly." "Could have been Perowne's dog." " He's an ex-working sheepdog." "Generations of breeding and training were cut off when Hatter took him in." "The instinct remains and sometimes it makes a dog a sheep killer." "That's why so many aren't allowed to live." "What can we do?" "Let's make sure it is Sligo before we tell Hatter." "And if it is...it'll have to be destroyed." "God help the man who does it!" "Hatter Perowne has very medieval notions of retribution." "Helen, where are you?" "Thank you, Helen." "I thought you'd be along soon." "How are we getting on, Mr Benson?" "I've got a couple for you." " Good." "Bit sharpish, isn't it?" " Nice and crisp." "Here's the first one." "Thank you." "Some hot water, soap and a towel, if you please." "Right away, Mr Farnon." "Right then, girlie." "Ohh." " What's wrong with her?" "Well, she's...good and heavy." "I think there are two inside there, if not three." "Let's have that for a second." "They're probably all trying to get out at the same time." "Ah, good, thank you." "Here we are." "Hey, who's this?" " That's Herbert." "Our Herbert?" " Where's his mother?" "The little beggar's given up on her." "Keeps nipping from ewe to ewe, takin' a nip here, a sup there." "I've never seen owt like it." " You didn't put him with the pet lambs?" "No, he makes do on his own." " He's not doing badly at it, either." "A bit on t'small side but game all the same." "I'll go, Mrs Hall." "Quiet, dogs!" "Hello, Mr Perowne." "I've called to say that Sligo's back." "Well, I'm very glad to hear that." "Have you any idea where he's been?" "You know you said instinct was drawing him away?" "You were right." "I know what he's been up to." "That's about it then, is it, Mr Benson?" "Aye, I'm very grateful." "Would you like a bite to eat?" "That's very kind but our own supper's waiting." "I'll warm the car up." "Good night." "Good night, lass." "Well, we're getting well through here now." "Yes, looks like it." "Cropping well, are you?" "About eight below double." " Very good." "Mr Benson!" "Mr Benson!" "Sheep killer on Button pasture, Mr Benson!" "By heck!" "You sure?" "Aye!" "Saw him chasing' some o't'ewes." "Let him have both barrels an' all." "Did you get it?" " l winged him more likely." "But did you get a good look at it?" "Aye, Mr Farnon." "Get inside quickly!" "James!" " Yes?" "The workers return!" "Welcome!" "Oh!" "This job is more than flesh and feeble sinew can bear!" "I'll see about some food." " lt's all ready... in the kitchen." " God bless Mrs Hall!" "What?" "Siegfried, remember I spoke to you about Perowne's dog?" "Ahh, yes." " Well, he's got it back." "Has he?" " Mm." "Amazing nose - he sniffed out a bitch on heat eight miles away." "And Sligo, you'll be interested to hear, is now involved in a paternity case." "Thank goodness he wasn't after sheep." "Oh, yes, Sligo was taken in by the owner of the bitch so he couldn't have attacked those sheep." "I'm very glad for Hatter." "Benson's flock was attacked again tonight." "Did they get a look at it?" " Not close up." "But it isn't a sheepdog, it's something bigger, a... an Airedale or an Alsatian, that stamp of creature." "Apparently it limps." " Was one leg bandaged?" "I don't know, it was dark." "One of them said he thought he had a white leg and limped so it could have been." "Why?" "Peter Marston's dog." "The old Alsatian, Jack?" " Mm." "Come along, I'm starving!" " Sorry, darling." "I bandaged its leg this week - that's twice it's had cut feet." "If what you say is true, well, it's possible, isn't it?" "Yes, I'd make absolutely sure that that dog hasn't been on the loose lately." "Come along, lass, I'll show you." "Well, lad." "Mr Marston, did Jack go out last night?" "You mean for his walk?" " No, I mean off on his own." "I don't rightly know what you mean, lad." "Mr Marston, a dog that could have been an Alsatian was seen yesterday evening." "It can't be Jack, he's not even allowed off his lead until t'stitches are out, you said so." "Yes, and you're sure he didn't go out last night?" "Nay, lad." " He couldn't have wandered off?" "Nay, can't be." "Jack's not the type to wander off, nay." "You're certain you didn't miss him yesterday evening?" "He were here when I came out, same as always." "Could I see him?" " Aye." "Thank you." "Erm, would you mind telling me what it's all about, please, lad?" "It's sheep worrying." " Sheep worrying?" "There have been four attacks on pregnant ewes." "For a minute you had me worried, Mr Herriot." "A sheep killer, is it?" "Well, it can't be our Jack." "Friendly old soul like him?" "Besides, as I say, he's never allowed out on his own." "I'd better see him anyway." " Aye, he's outside." "Thanks." "Jack!" "Come on, boy!" "Good boy." "Come on, Jack." "Come on, go to Mr Herriot." "Go on, boy." "There's a good dog." "Let's have a look at that paw." "Oh, well..." " See?" "I told you." "Good dog." " Good boy." "Seems to have some sort of injury there, Mr Marston." "lnjury?" " Mm-hm." "Happened quite recently too." "If you'd hold him very firmly, please." "Oh. I can't say how he got it." " Thank you." "Barbed wire by the looks of it." "Except there ain't any here." "All right, boy." "It's all right, Jack." "James, how was it?" "It was his dog, all right." "And he didn't know?" " No." "The old boy's completely shattered." "Damn it, he's had that dog for 12 years with no indication anything like this could happen." "There rarely is with a town-bred animal." "I felt like judge and executioner." "It was your job." "Besides, there's Benson's sheep to be considered." "Oh, yes, he understands that." "What about the dog?" "Benson will insist on having him put down." "Oh, Marston knows..." "and he's very cut up about it." "He wants to wait a few days to work out how best to do it." "Oh, James, James, James." "Hell of a job we have to do sometimes, you know." "Mr Herriot." "Hello, Mr Marston." "Mr Herriot, I've come..." "I want..." "You want me to, um..." "To put...put Jack..." "To put him to sleep?" "How do?" " Hello, Mr Benson." "What have you got for us?" " lt's easing up." "But one's doing badly." "Had a bellyful of dead lambs." "Well, let's have a look at her." "Bring the antiseptics, would you, my dear?" "Yes, of course." " Thank you very much." "Mr Benson..." "Very decent of you not to bring in the law about old Mr Marston." "Aye." "Well, er, he paid damages." "They're going back to Leeds." "They've decided they're not country folk." "Did you know that?" "No, but I guessed he'd do summat like that." "I made him promise t'dog'd never cause trouble again." "He won't." "Mr Herriot put him down." "Right, let's have a look at that ewe." "I'm afraid she is damaged, Mr Benson." "I don't give much for her chances." "Her insides are infected." "is there owt else you can do for her?" "I could put some pessaries inside her." "What she really needs is a lamb of her own to look after." "She'll just give up with nothing to occupy her." "Hey, you!" "Come on, Herbert!" "Out of it!" "He's grown, hasn't he?" "Aye, getting a bit big for his boots an' all." "Mr Benson..." "I think we've found a mother for Herbert." "Let's see if her own lamb's skin will help to fool her." "She's accepting him."