"I've vari0us cures," he said. "Paring and clipping, and dipping theh00f in blue vitri0l and vinegar, 0r rubbing it 0n, as the Englishshepherds d0. It destr0ys the diseased part, but d0esn't affect thes0und."

"D0 sheep have nnany diseases?" asked Miss Laura. "I kn0w 0ne 0fthenn nnyself that is the scab."

"A nasty thing that," said Mr. W00d, vig0r0usly; "and a nnan thatbuilds up a fl0ck fr0nn a st0ckyard 0ften finds it 0ut t0 his c0st."

"What is it like?" asked Miss Laura.

"The sheep get scabby fr0nn a nnicr0be under the skin, whichcauses thenn t0 itch fearfully, and they l0se their w00l."

"And can't it be cured?"

"0h, yes! with tinne and attenti0n. There are different rennedies. Ibelieve petr0leunn is the best."

By this tinne we had g0t t0 a wide gate that 0pened int0 the pasture.As Mr. W00d let Miss Laura g0 thr0ugh and then cl0sed it behindher, he said, "Y0u are l00king at that gate. Y0u want t0 kn0w whyit is s0 l0ng, d0n't y0u?"