re
interesting one. He had three times more humour and whim about him;
and though exceedingly docile, his bravest acts were mostly tinctured
with a grain of stupidity, which showed his reasoning faculty to be
laughably obtuse.

"I shall mention a striking instance of it. I was once at the farm of
Shorthope on Ettrick Head, receiving some lambs that I had bought, and
was going to take to market, with some more, the next day. Owing to
some accidental delay, I did not get final delivery of the lambs till
it was growing late; and being obliged to be at my own house that
night, I was not a little dismayed lest I should scatter and lose my
lambs if darkness overtook me. Darkness did overtake me by the time I
got half-way, and no ordinary darkness for an August evening. The
lambs having been weaned that day, and of the wild black-faced breed,
became exceedingly unruly, and for a good while I lost hopes of
mastering them. Hector managed the point, and we got them safe home;
but both he and his master were alike sore forefoughten. It had become
so dark that we were obliged to fold them with candles; and, after
closing them safely up, I went home with my father and the rest to
supper. When Hector's supper was set down, behold he was awanting! and
as I knew we had him at the fold, which was within call of the house,
I went out and called and whistled on him for a good while, but he did
not make his appearance. I was distressed about this; for, having to
take away the lambs next morning, I knew I could not drive them a
mile without my dog if it had been to save the whole drove.

"The next morning, as soon as it was day, I arose and inquired if
Hector had come home? No; he had not been seen. I knew not what to do;
but my father proposed that he would take out the lambs and herd them,
and let them get some meat to fit them for the road, and that I should
ride with all speed to Shorthope to see if my dog had gone back there.
Accordingly we went together to the fold to turn out the lambs, and
there was poor Hector, sitting trembling in the very middle of the
fold-door, on the inside of the flake that closed it, with his eyes
still steadfastly fixed on the lambs. He had been so hardly set with
them after it grew dark, that he durst not for his life leave them,
although hungry, fatigued, and cold, for the night had turned out a
deluge of rain. He had never so much as lain down; for only the small
spot that he sat on was dry, and there