# XIII explained — Shepherds of the Wild

> Chapter companion for Shepherds of the Wild by Edison Marshall.

## What happens

José Mertos returns to Landy Fargo after murdering the herder Dan and his dog, recounting the killing with unsettling afterimages. Fargo, inspired by the howling of his bear dogs, devises a plan to use the pack to destroy the sheep flock, escalating the conflict between cattlemen and sheepmen.

## Themes in this chapter

### Conflict Between Sheepmen and Cattlemen

Fargo's plan to use his bear dogs to destroy the sheep flock exemplifies the brutal tactics in the range war.

### The Primitive and Atavistic

José's blood-madness and Fargo's savage inspiration from the dog pack highlight primal instincts and violence.

### Nature and the Cycle of Life and Death

The murder of Dan and the planned slaughter of sheep reflect the harsh cycle of death in the wilderness.

## Character check-ins

### José Mertos

Returns to Fargo after murdering Dan and his dog; struggles with afterimages of the killing.

### Landy Fargo

Receives José's report; plans to use his bear dogs to destroy the sheep flock.

### Dan

Murdered by José; his bewildered expression haunts José.

### Alice Crowson

Expected to discover the murder and flock destruction in three days.

### Hugh Gaylord

Mentioned as arriving at the sheep camp for the first time during the twilight.

## Key lines

> He hadnвАЩt seemed to realize that Jos√© had shot him, that even as the blank expression of astonishment had come upon his face the lead ball had forced a passage through his breast.

Dan appeared not to understand he had been shot, his face showing only blank surprise as the bullet pierced his chest.

_José recalls Dan's bewildered expression after being shot._

> It was as if they heard us talkinвАЩ about sheep. ItвАЩs like they was tryinвАЩ to tell us what to do.

The dogs' howling seemed to respond to their conversation about sheep, as if suggesting a course of action.

_Fargo interprets the bear dogs' howling as a sign to use them against the sheep._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/shepherds_of_the_wild_se/chapters/xiii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/shepherds_of_the_wild_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/shepherds_of_the_wild_se/chapters