THE SHEEP DOG. 117 



had been there to have assisted him, they could not have 

 effected it with greater propriety. All that I can farther say 

 is, that I never felt so grateful to any creature below the sun, 

 as I did to my honest Sirrah that morning." 



.j,^ "The late Mr. Steel, flesher in Peebles," says 



Sheep-dog's James Hogg, " had a bitch whose feats in taking 

 Fidelity. s h ee p from the neighbouring farms into the Flesh- 

 market at Peebles, form innumerable anecdotes in that vici- 

 nity, all similar to one another. But there is one instance 

 related of her, that combines so much sagacity with natural 

 affection, that I do not think the history of the animal creation 

 furnishes such another. Mr. Steel had such an implicit 

 dependence on the attention of this animal to his orders, 

 that, whenever he put a lot of sheep before her, he took a 

 pride in leaving them to herself, and either remained to take 

 a glass with the farmer of whom he had made the purchase, 

 or took another road to look after bargains or other business. 

 But one time he chanced to commit a drove to her charge 

 at a place called Willenslee, without attending to her condi- 

 tion as he ought to have done. This farm is five miles from 

 Peebles, over wild hills, and there is no regularly defined 

 path to it. Whether Mr. Steel remained behind, or chose 

 another road, I know not; but, on coming home late in the 

 evening, he was astonished at hearing that his faithful animal 

 had not made her appearance with the flock. He and his 

 son, or servant, instantly prepared to set out by different 

 paths in search of her; but, on their going out to the street, 

 there was she coming with the drove, not one missing; and 

 marvellous to relate, she was carrying a young pup in her 

 mouth! She had been taken in travail on those hills; and 

 how the poor beast had contrived to manage the drove in 

 her state of suflering is beyond human calculation, for her 

 read lay through sheep the whole way. Her master's heart 

 smote him when he saw what she had suffered and effected : 

 but she was nothing daunted ; and having deposited her young 



