| Quote from the story |
| "…she couldn't get out of givin' me the half-crown. She made me promise to put it in my money-box, so I did all right, but I got it out again with a knife when she'd gone. I never promised not to get it out again" |
| - William |
|---|
The Outlaws were in Ginger's back garden eating apples before throwing apple cores at each other. William was telling them about a films he had seen with his aunt, who had given his half a crown because he had been helpful. While William was rather vague about the content of the films, apart from general fighting, one thing he was sure on was that he liked the sheep dog the best. Quite taken with the intelligence and abilities of sheep dogs, William decides that Jumble would make a good sheep dog.
Now that William has the idea, he won't shut up about the idea. The Outlaws get a bit fed up as they want to know what happened in the war film, but William is no longer interested. This leads to Ginger betting William that he can't train Jumble to be a sheep dog. The bets hardens William's resolve and he now daydreams of all the amazing feats Jumble will achieve as a sheep dog. And of course, while he'd hire him out to the farmer, Jenks, he'd charge him more and make it difficult for him! Settling old scores!
Deciding to train Jumble in secret, seeing as the other Outlaws didn't support the cause, he heads over to the aforementioned Jenks' farm. Seeing Jenks heading towards the pigsties, William heads directly for the outfields, where he comes across many sheep. So, the training begins. Unfortunately, Jumble's idea of bringing the sheep efficiently to the corner was running wildly and barking loudly at them from all directions. Jumble, now in a state of ecstacy, ignores William's commands to stop. This, of course, brings Farmer Jenks to the chaotic scene; throwing stones at Jumble and grabbing William by the scrub of his neck.
Farmer Smith arrives now, but even his attempts do not calm a furious Jenks, who wants five pounds in damages and Jumble destroyed for sheep worrying. William pleads with Jenks. He'll bring him all the money, two-pence a week, as long as he doesn't tell Mr Brown or destroy Jumble.
As he drags William home, the damages have decreased to three pounds, but it seems the destruction of Jumble is a must.
Mr Brown deals with William harshly and his solicitor advises him to pay the damages and get rid of Jumble. William pleads for the life of Jumble, but his father won't hear of it, his mother doesn't have a sympathetic ear either.
William decides to keep Jumble in the barn until the whole mess dies down. When the vet arrives to take care of business, Jumble is nowhere to be seen. It becomes clear that the adult world is against him. He decides to take Jumble and go on the run.
We are then introduced to Miss Wortleton, who has taken a house on the outskirts of Marleigh, in which she housed a large number of dogs. She cannot abide dogs being maltreated, so while she is worried about the amount of dogs she has; when she sees a farmer giving a sheep dog a hiding during training, she buys it for £10 (even though the farmer, secretly, only wanted £5).
She sees William outside her home looking at a sign-post, as if wondering which way to go. She witnesses his affectionate behaviour towards Jumble and thinks that William is the boy to relieve her of one of her dogs.
William declines her offer of viewing all of her dogs until refreshments are offered. At seeing the amount of dogs she has, he considers that she collects dogs like someone might collect cigarette cards. So while she is trying to palm a dog off on William, William is in turn wanting her to look after Jumble until the fuss dies down. Miss Wortleton offers a sheep dog, Hector, to William. William, at first, declines, but having time to think while he demolishes a second plate of new current buns, then accepts. He decides he can go back to the original plan of hiding Jumble and can now say that he has swapped him for Hector. Hector, having nothing to do with the situation would be left out of it.
Walking home, William is less certain that his plan will work. But he comes upon a situation at the boundary of Farmer Jenk's land and Farmer Smith's land - sheep gone wild! Jenks has tied up his sheepdog as useless and William, deciding to watch proceedings, does the same with Jumble. However, Hector makes a run for the sheep. Smith seeing that Hector is trained, yells instructions, which are followed to the tee. Smith is impressed and tricks Farmer Jenks into saying that Jumble can live if Hector is for sale. Jenks says he'll buy him, but Smith says that he already has, will pay for the original damages - but must have proof! This sends Jenks off in a rage.
Escorting William home to speak with his parents, Smith tells them everything is fine and he'll manage Jenks. He gives William a ten-shilling note with the potential of more to come, dependent on the damages he has to pay Jenks.
Unaware of Jumble's change in fortune, Ethel returns home thinking that he has been destroyed. Thinking William is low on money as his pocket money was suspended, she offers him a low fee for collecting her shoes from the cobbler and she'll borrow the money for payment from mother. William flashes his ten-shilling note, saying he'll collect the shoes for free and lend her the money! Shouting "Hi, Jumble!", Ethel is thrown into "utter stupification". Life again, for William, is good!
| Characters | Events |
|---|---|
| William | Sheep worrying |
| Ginger | |
| Douglas | Places |
| Henry | Ginger's House (Back Garden) |
| Jumble | Jenks Farm |
| Farmer Jenks | William's Home |
| Farmer Smith | Miss Wortleton' s Home |
| Mr Brown | |
| Mrs Brown | |
| Miss Wortleton | |
| Ethel |
