194 Maxey 



freedom, its youth, and its hopes for the future. 



In the great city we meet thousands of people 

 each day, until human faces almost become an an- 

 noyance. Even in smaller settlements, compara- 

 tively little is thought of human or animal life. But 

 in the vast solitude of the mountains, where Nature 

 rules in silent grandeur, the spirit is drawn toward 

 man, toward dumb companions, and toward God. 



As, day after day, Herbert Euston toiled through 

 the narrow passes and observed the quiet faithfulness 

 of the animal by his side, as the absence of all human 

 life caused him to note more carefully the character 

 of his dumb companion, and he realized the many 

 noble traits of the quiet little animal, his heart was 

 warmed with a feeling of affection for the devoted 

 creature whose lot was cast with his. At last he 

 came into the region beyond the range, and began 

 his work of prospecting. It was a slow process : 

 days of toil, nights of loneliness ; one day cheered 

 by hope, the next doomed to disappointment. But 

 during all that time, Maxey was the same docile, 

 faithful creature ; never straying away, always ready 

 for any task, however laborious. 



