Howbeit, they are not mine and I can not leave them." "You have been misinformed," the decurion said gravely, while his men, circling around the growling dog, went on with their work.

"These are Roman sheep, with the Flavian coat of arms and the mark of the army in black on their hides--if you shear them.

But if you make away as fast as you can I shall not tell Titus which way you went." The sheep had started pell-mell toward the Roman road.

The decurion turned back to his horse.

The shepherd released his dog, which ran after the flock, and stepped into the decurion's way.
"However these sheep look when they are sheared," he said, "this seems to be robbery to me." "Robbery!" the good-natured decurion exclaimed.