A COLLIE IN THE DESERT 137 



But as no one wants him and as I can't keep him 

 he'll have to shift for himself," said the agent. 



Very strangely the life and the country must 

 have struck Jack if he inherited memories of 

 sheep, or of friendly, intimate association with 

 man. Perhaps, too, he had memories of the 

 misty climate of the Highlands when he looked 

 out on the Arizona landscape of forests, moun- 

 tains, and green valleys and the wide stretches 

 of desert sand, picturesque cactus, and lonesome, 

 sand-blown distances. 



For several days the collie had only the scraps 

 rejected or overlooked by the Mexican dogs. 

 Finally he learned the places where scanty bits 

 of food might possibly be found, and by being 

 vigilant sometimes satisfied his hunger. He soon 

 learned the ways of Mexican dogs, burros, and 

 people. He went close to buildings only when 

 searching for something to eat. 



Day and night he kept to himself. He never 

 went around the adobe houses where there were 

 Mexican dogs. He usually lay daytime where 

 he could look down the narrow, cluttered street 

 and off beyond where the road led into the 

 woods. 



Two years afterward I came upon Jack on 

 the outskirts of this Arizona village as he lay 

 watching a number of goats near by. He was 

 ready to take charge of the herd, to guard or to 



