20 KRIDER'S SPORTING ANECDOTES. 



two have started for a third farm, six miles from 

 the first, and worried sheep. In this instance 

 each animal was found in his house before sun- 

 rise, and it was only by their tracks in the snow 

 that their misdeeds were brought home to them. 



All this reminds us strongly of the wolf. The 

 following incident, said to have occurred many 

 years ago, in the state of Virginia, west of the 

 Blue Ridge, bears a still closer comparison with 

 the deeds of that wily and ferocious animal. 



A storekeeper, in a village in that part of the 

 country, possessed a remarkably intelligent dog, 

 of the mixed Poodle and Newfoundland stock. 

 He was of service to his master in guarding his 

 property, and had been taught to do many useful 

 things, which had become the talk of the country 

 side. He would convey parcels home to a cus- 

 tomer, carry his master's boots to the shoemaker, 

 search diligently for any thing which had been 

 lost in the fields or the roadside, patiently watch 

 an article to which his attention had been directed, 

 and really seemed to comprehend any command 

 which was given him. 



Having been well cared for, in spite of the 

 cross, he had attained an extraordinary size, and 

 was possessed of great activity for so heavy an 

 animal. His coat was coarse and heavy; and, in 



