Shepherds of the Wild · Chapter
XIV explained
Fargo prepares his pack of hounds for a sheep-killing raid by first having José procure a lamb from Newt Hillguard, then feeding it to the dogs to incite their bloodlust.
What happens
Fargo prepares his pack of hounds for a sheep-killing raid by first having José procure a lamb from Newt Hillguard, then feeding it to the dogs to incite their bloodlust. He rides through the mountains toward the sheep camp, struggling to control the increasingly savage hounds. As the moon rises, he locates his position and continues, unaware that Alice is also venturing out to find lost sheep.
Themes in this chapter
Conflict Between Sheepmen and Cattlemen
Fargo's deliberate plan to use his hounds to destroy Crowson's flock exemplifies the violent range war between cattle and sheep interests.
The Primitive and Atavistic
The hounds' transformation from domestic animals to savage, wolf-like creatures under the moonlight highlights the primal instincts lurking beneath the surface.
Nature and the Cycle of Life and Death
The moonlit forest and the dogs' hunting lust reflect the natural cycle of predator and prey, with the lamb's sacrifice and the impending attack on the sheep.
Characters to notice
- Landy Fargo
Plans and executes a scheme to turn his hounds into sheep-killers, procuring a lamb to incite their bloodlust and riding to the sheep camp under the moonlight.
- José Mertos
Assists Fargo by riding to Newt Hillguard's to buy a lamb for the dogs' training, then participates in the grim scene behind Fargo's house.
- Newt Hillguard
Sells a lamb to José, believing it is for a mutton meal, unaware of Fargo's true purpose.
- Old Ben
The pack leader who bays sharply, signaling the dogs' wild excitement and leading them into the shadows.
- Spot
The flock leader whose tracks the hounds follow, though they are drawn toward a group of stragglers instead.
Key passages
“The light grew, it leaped down between the trees, it worked nebulous magic on the floor of the forest, it enchanted the whole wilderness world.”
The moonlight expanded, cascading through the trees and casting an enchanting, mystical glow across the forest floor.
Describes the transformative power of the moonrise as Fargo waits for light to navigate.
“The pack had been given its lesson. Fargo foresaw in their glaring eyes—as they came rushing back to the palings again—the success of his plan.”
After the dogs had been blooded on the lamb, Fargo saw in their fierce eyes that his scheme would succeed.
Fargo's satisfaction after the brutal training of the hounds.
“I've got a better way than that. Of course one of us will have to take 'em and show 'em the way until they get on the track of the flock, and of course that one will have to be me.”
Fargo explains that he will personally lead the dogs to the sheep, as he is the only one who can control them.
Fargo's plan to guide the hounds to the sheep camp.