nd lofty mountains to
which sheep have access, and to which man could scarcely
penetrate--that some sheep will stray and intermix with other
flocks--that the dog knows the extent of his walk as well as every
individual of his flock, and that he will select his own as well as
drive away intruders, we must admit his utility and admire his
sagacity.

Let me give another instance of this in the words of the Ettrick
Shepherd. It was related to me by himself, and has since been
published in the "Percy Anecdotes."

"I once witnessed a very singular feat performed by a dog belonging to
John Graham, late tenant in Ashiesteel. A neighbour came to his house
after it was dark, and told him that he had lost a sheep on his farm,
and that if he (Graham) did not secure her in the morning early, she
would be lost, as he had brought her far. John said he could not
possibly get to the hill next morning, but if he would take him to the
very spot where he lost the sheep, perhaps his dog Chieftain would
find her that night. On that they went away with all expedition, lest
the traces of the feet should cool; and I, then a boy, being in the
house, went with them. The night was pitch dark, which had been the
cause of the man losing his ewe, and at length he pointed out a place
to John by the side of the water where he had lost her. 'Chieftain,
fetch that!' said John. 'Bring her back, sir!' The dog jumped around
and around, and reared himself up on end; but not being able to see
anything, evidently misapprehended his master, on which John fell to
scolding his dog, calling it a great many hard names. He at last told
the man that he must point out the very track that the sheep went,
otherwise he had no chance of recovering it. The man led him to a grey
stone, and said he was sure she took the brae (hill side) within a
yard of that. 'Chieftain, come hither to my foot, you great numb'd
whelp!' said John. Chieftain came--John pointed with his finger to the
ground, 'Fetch that, I say, sir--bring that back--away!' The dog
scented slowly about on the ground for some seconds, but soon began to
mend his pace, and vanished in the darkness. 'Bring her back!--away,
you great calf!' vociferated John, with a voice of exultation, as the
dog broke to the hill; and as all these good dogs perform their work
in perfect silence, we neither saw nor heard any more of him for a
long time. I think, if I remember right, we waited there about half an
hour, during which