298 The King of the Thundering Herd 



tenderly and carried him forth, their par- 

 ents bringing up the rear. 



" What changes in our family Shep has 

 lived to see," said Mrs. Anderson with a sob 

 in her throat at the end. 



" Yes, mother ; he has seen us travel the 

 long road from poverty to prosperity," said 

 Mr. Anderson. " He was two years old, a 

 frisky, frolicksome pup when we started in 

 that old schooner, away back in Indiana, 

 for the land of Kansas. Shep made the 

 entire trip with us, and he was the very 

 laughter of the family, always ready to grin 

 and wag his tail." 



" I never shall forget the night that you 

 left Shep and me alone on the banks of the 

 Missouri River, while you went back for 

 mother and Tom," said Benjamin. " Shep 

 seemed to know that I was half scared out 

 of my wits, and he was continually telling 

 me in his dog way, ' I'll take care of you.' 

 I went to sleep with my head upon his side, 



