I shut the window and dressed in haste; and when I entered the kitchen, not even Betty, the earliest of all early birds, was there.  I raked the ashes together a little, just to see a spark of warmth; and then set forth to find John Fry, Jem Slocombe, and Bill Dadds.  But this was easier thought than done; for when I opened the courtyard door, I was taken up to my knees at once, and the power of the drifting cloud prevented sight of anything.  However, I found my way to the woodrick, and there got hold of a fine ash-stake, cut by myself not long ago.  With this I ploughed along pretty well, and thundered so hard at John Fry’s door, that he thought it was the Doones at least, and cocked his blunderbuss out of the window.

John was very loth to come down, when he saw the meaning of it; for he valued his life more than anything else; though he tried to make out that his wife was to blame.  But I settled his doubts by telling him, that I would have him on my shoulder naked, unless he came in five minutes; not that he could do much good, but because the other men would be sure to skulk, if he set them the example.  With spades, and shovels, and pitch-forks, and a round of roping, we four set forth to dig out the sheep; and the poor things knew that it was high time.

CHAPTER XLII

THE GREAT WINTER

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It must have snowed most wonderfully to have made that depth of covering in about eight hours.  For one of Master Stickles’ men, who had been out all the night, said that no snow began to fall until nearly midnight.  And here it was, blocking up the doors, stopping the ways, and the water courses, and making it very much worse to walk than in a saw-pit newly used.  However, we trudged along in a line; I first, and the other men after me; trying to keep my track, but finding legs and strength not up to it.  Most of all, John Fry was groaning; certain that his time was come, and sending messages to his wife, and blessings to his children.  For all this time it was snowing harder than it ever had snowed before, so far as a man might guess at it; and the leaden depth of the sky came down, like a mine turned upside down on us.  Not that the flakes were so very large; for I have seen much larger flakes in a shower of March, while sowing peas; but that there was no room between them, neither any relaxing, nor any change of direction.

Watch, like a good and faithful dog, followed us very cheerfully, leaping out of the depth, which took him over his back and ears already, even in the level places; while in the drifts he might have sunk to any distance out of sight, and never found his way up again.  However, we helped him now and then, especially through the gaps and gateways; and so after a deal of floundering, some laughter, and a little swearing, we came all safe to the lower meadow, where most of our flock was hurdled.