288 A DOG HUNT ON THE BERWYNS 



the Berwyn farmers heard of sheep after sheep 

 being killed on their own and neighbouring farms, 

 by a dog which nobody owned, and which ran 

 loose on the mountains catering; for itself. De- 

 scending from the lonelier parts of the hills, it 

 would visit the sheep-walks and kill, as it appeared, 

 for the pure love of killing ; in most cases leaving 

 the mangled bodies on the spot. 



Month after month ran by, and it still eluded 

 the vengeance of the indignant hillmen. The most 

 exaggerated accounts were current respecting its 

 size and ferocity. No two versions agreed as to its 

 colour, though all gave it enormous size. As it 

 afterwards turned out, it was a black and white 

 foxhound bitch. 



Everybody carried a gun, but on the few occa- 

 sions that the dog came within shot, it appeared to 

 be shot proof. The loss of numerous sheep ' was 

 becoming serious ; in some instances the farmers 

 suffered heavily. It was the staple topic of con- 

 versation. From time to time, paragraphs, such as 

 the following, appeared in the papers published in 

 the neighbouring towns : — 



"The Eapacious Dog. — The noted sheep de- 

 stroyer on the Berwyn hills still continues to 

 commit liis depredations, in spite of all efforts to 

 kill him. 



