The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1894-04-27


be looking for me. Not finding me, he had
gone off again.
81 look a shovel Of Goals from the stove
and went out to the great pile of logs 1
had ready chopped to build a new house
the nest spring.
"Old Shep came tearing up and jumped
on my back and nearly threw me ON the
Goals.
"He would hardly wait while I finished
firing the logs.
"In a few minutes they famed up and
made a light that could be seen for miles
away.
"Then I tuurned and said to the dog,
Take me to her, Shep.'
"When we came to the creek, I found
the foot bridge had been blown away by
the fierce wind, and had to wade through
the rapid water and crawl up the steep cut
bank on the other side.
sit had now ceased showing, but was
blowing and drifting. The night was
black as ink, and 1 could distinguish moth
ing or could hardly see the dog beside me.
"We soon began to descend a steep hill,
and / knew we were going into the valley
of Willow creek.
A soon as I got to the foot of the hill
I ran right into the herd of sheep, all hud-
died together.
"When I stopped, not knowing which
way to 60, the dog caught me by the leg
and pulled me on again.
w went round the herd until came
up against a high cut bank.
"FeeliEg my way along the base of this,
I heard a faint call:
"'Shep, Shepl Come, old Shep, and
, warm me!'
II rushed forward as the dog answered
with a park of delight and found Nellie
standing fat up against the bank, still on
guard, though nearly dead with cold. Her
first words were:
"'Oh, father, I would have been dead
and all the sheep lost if it had not been
for dear old Shep. 1t was he that drove
them in that sheltered place.
II turned to look for the dog, but he
was gone, and the next moment 1 saw him
in the middle of the crowding sheep, dash
ing at them on all sides, to prevent them
from crushing together.
HE was doing more than a half dozen
men could in the same place.
"But I could not wait. must get Mel
lie home.
"Leaving Shep to watch the sheep, I
took her in my arms and crawled pack up
the hill.
II could see in the distance the blazing
fire of the woodpile and made straight for
it.
"When I got to the cabin with my bur-
| den, my wife was up and dressed, ill az she
was.
"Sheh had hot drinks and clothes ready,
n | left her to take care of the child,
while / at once struck out again for the
|. sheep.
"I found the loci in the same place
that had left them. They were quiet and
had ceased walking.
"But I saw no signs of the dog.
~ called to him and was answered by a
bark from ths center of the herd. He was
in their very midst and had by his efforts
kept them from milling.
"Shep and l worked hard to get the herd
headed home, but they would not leave
the shelter and face the strong wind.
II caught an old eve and dragged her
out along the path a few feet, and then
called Shep to me aud made him hold her
by the ear while I went into the herd and
drove a few more out.
1.-THE bah, bah of the old eve attracted
the attention of the others, and they start
ed to go to her.
II then called Shep to let her 60, and
she led them on the path toward home,
while Shep and I drove up the tagging
ones in the rear.
II went on ahead of the herd with the
dog and posted him at the broken bridge
to prevent them crossing, while I went on
over to the ranch to get some plank to
make a temporary bridge.
1.-THE sheep were mad to get to their
sheds. The stupid creatures kept crowding
to the edge of the bank, despite all efforts
of Shep to drive them back.
ga last one went over, and that was
the sign for all to follow.
"In a moment a thousand were in the
narrow gorge between the banks, and they
kept coming until enough were piled up
to make a bridge of their carcasses, over
which allthe others passed.
"Old Shep had fought them on the very
edge and was carried over with the ava
lanche, and even in the creek tried to force
them back, but was soon crushed beneath
the mass.
1.-THE next day we took out of the gorge
60 dead sheep, and beneath them we found
the body of the faithful dog that had as
truly died on duty as the greatest soldier
in history. "-Exchange.