240 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA 



to be found therein follow the sheep, striving to 

 keep them together and if possible to lead them at 

 last to a safe shelter, perhaps among pines or be- 

 hind protecting cliffs and hills. 



Oftentimes these storms endure for several days 

 and the shepherd may fincf no refuge nor help until 

 at last he is overcome with weariness and cold and 

 lies down in the snow for rest. Here he is found, 

 sometimes yet alive, and more often frozen to death. 

 There is hardly a winter that there are not a num- 

 ber of herders lost in storms and there have been 

 single storms that counted their dead by scores. 

 The writer knows one 'old man, a fine herder he is, 

 who had been found buried in a snowdrift beside 

 his flock, miles from the camp, so frozen that he lost 

 all the fingers of both hands, only one thumb re- 

 maining. This old man, after the terrible experi- 

 ence, calmly resumed his occupation, and even man- 

 aged to live alone and make camp in his crippled 

 condition. 



Men of foreign birth often make excellent herders 

 for the range country. Germans excel, Portuguese 

 are reputed good herders, Andalusians have a repu- 

 tation in parts of California, a Chinaman has been 

 known to become a skilled shepherd, and Mexicans 

 have their virtures, among them a doglike fidelity, 

 though they are not reputed so daring and resolute 

 in time of stress as men of northern climes. And 

 now and then a lad of American stock excels. Scots 

 are found everywhere among them, and everywhere 

 in the lead, having a heritage of sheep-keeping an- 



