The New King 173 



try to slip away and throw his friend off 

 the scent, but the sure nose of Shep always 

 took up the trail and after perhaps half an 

 hour he would come panting up with the 

 unruly buffalo. 



Finally late in the afternoon of the third 

 day a painful accident befell the dog. In 

 jumping down the side of a coulee after 

 the fleeing bison, he stuck a savage stub 

 nearly through his paw. This would not 

 have been so bad but the stub broke off 

 and left a bad sliver in the wounded 

 member. 



For half an hour more Shep limped after 

 his charge on three legs, occasionally whim- 

 pering, or stopping to bite at his paw, try- 

 ing vainly to extricate the stub ; but finally 

 the foot swelled so badly that he was obliged 

 to give up and sit down upon a hillock and 

 see Buck gallop away toward the wester- 

 ing sun free from pursuit. 



Then began two or three very miserable 



