ANECDOTES OF THE SHEPHERD'S DOG. 99 



number of sheep and oxen alone, and unattended, to 

 Alston market. No person was to be within sight or 

 hearing, who had the least control over the dog ; nor 

 was any spectator to interfere, nor be within five hun- 

 dred yards. On trial, this extraordinary animal pro- 

 ceeded to business in the most steady and dexterous 

 manner ; and although he had frequently to drive his 

 charge through other herds which were grazing, yet he 

 never lost one, b\it conducted them safely to the very 

 yard where he had been accustomed to drive them with 

 his master, and delivered them up to the person ap- 

 pointed to i-eceive them, by significantly barking at his 

 door. What was very remarkable in this journey was, 

 that when the path lay through a spot where other 

 herds were grazing, the dog would run forward, stop his 

 own drove, and then, driving the others away, collect 

 his scattered charge and proceed. He was several times 

 afterwards thus sent alone, for the amusement of the 

 curious, or the convenience of his master, and always 

 behaved in a similar manner. The story reached the 

 ears of a gentleman travelling in that neighbourhood, 

 who bought the dog for a considerable sum of money. 



A shepherd visiting his flock among the Grampian 

 hills, happened to carry with him one of his children, 

 an infant under four years old. This is a common prac- 

 tice with Highlanders, that their children may early 

 become accustomed to the severity of the weather. After 

 traversing his pastures for some distance attended by 

 his dog, the shepherd had occasion to mount a hill, 

 which he thought too fatiguing for the child, and there- 

 fore left him on a small plain at the bottom, with a 

 strict charge not to stir till he came back. Scarcely, 

 however, had he gained the top of the hill, when a thick 

 fog suddenly came on, and he anxiously returned to look 

 for his child : but, owing to the darkness and his own 

 alarm, he missed his way, and searched for the infant in 

 vain during several hours. His dog was also missing, 

 and after laborious efforts, he wandered in the direction 



H2 



