ii8 The King of the Thundering Herd 



tense and everything seemed much nearer 

 than usual. 



Shep was lying upon the ground in front 

 of the cabin fast asleep, his nose upon his 

 paws, which were crossed. Suddenly he 

 jumped up, uttering a sharp, short bark, 

 although there had been apparently noth- 

 ing to disturb him. Bennie, who was lying 

 upon the grass near by, called to him, think- 

 ing he had been dreaming. 



Shep winked and blinked, and for a mo- 

 ment looked wonderingly about, and then 

 without more ado started for the creek, 

 running like the wind. Bennie looked 

 after him in astonishment, but knowing 

 well the dog's keen perception and watch- 

 fulness with everything about the place, 

 started after him, thinking that something 

 out of the ordinary was afoot. 



When Shep reached the river, upon a 

 sand-bank near a shelving ledge of slate 

 and shale he found his friend Little Big- 



