The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-01-17

stumbling over the Lummocss Of
sand Of the Platte river bottoms,
among the scraggy willows that
marked the scanty watcrconrses in
its bed.
There my faith in animal intelli-
gence began to waver. and bitterly
concluded that neither the sheep nor
the dog knew any more than did Of
our whereabouts or destination. Be-
ing chilled through by the cutting
wind. wet from the icy needles that
penetrated my clothes and melted.
was in a discouraged stupor. and
wanted nothing so much as to lie
down and sleep.
The dog was exhibiting signs Of
alarm. He struggled round tho flank
Of the halting flock with whines Of
eagerness. and finally disappeared.
fancied that l once heard his bark
above the roar of the blizzard, but
did not attempt to learn what was
the matter. l was too exhausted and
desperate to know or care.
But the sheep. after struggling to
crowd forward, and slipping to right
and left. stopped and began TO lie
down and seek to get under one an
other in the snow. Except for the
tumult of the storm and the shrill
patter of the ice on tho low willows,
there was no further sound. AS i
staggered toward the sheep, thought
IL 4 Oh
seek the shelter of their bodies. So
crawled over the backs of dozen OF
the wearied animals and then kicked
and pushed my way down between
the heavy. ill-smelling feeces. The
animals made way for me and then
crowded round me so closely that l
had to force my face out to keep from
smothering. The darkening night
was closing down, the blizzard swept
above. and the slcet sifted unceasing-
ly between the warm, wet sides of
my protectors.
An overpowering desire TO sleep was
upon me, but I struggled against IL,
feeling that danger lurkcd in all this
soothing comfort. But tho heavy
warmth Of the sheep and their quiet
ness so affected me that l soon drift
ed into slumber. At troubled periods
awoke to find darkness all about,
but the breathing of my feecy COM
panions again and again renewed my
drowsy sense of security and comfort
till oblivion came once more. 1t was
only when the cramped position of
my body made a change necessary
that awoke enough to see that there
was a dim light shining through the
snow above me.
broke through the chilly covering
to find it broad daylight; the sun.
high in the cloudless sky, was glaring
intolerably on the wide, white coun-
try. The sheep were still quiet under
their snow blanket, and tho surface
was unbroken. but hey oud them saw
the black water of the open river
smoking against its glittering banks.
The blind march had led us out on a
narrow. sandy peninsula. where the
river curved around in its narrow bed
and here. il seemed, the faithful dog
had OWNED danger and had slipped
around the flock in time to keep the
leaders from venturing ON the treach.
erous ice.
Where the brave fellow was l did
mot know until cEvnbed the low bank
and discovered him watchfally upright
on the highest point. gazing across
the drifts 10 the town. which was. 70
my amazemcnt. hardly mile away
lie welcomed. me with delight and saw
me plunge into the snow toward the
settlement with barks of pleasure and
encouragement, but did not offer to
follow the broken path. i felt SC
happy at the termination of the adj
venture that soon covered the dis
lance. hungry and weak though / was
Then l found that the children and
nv sister had stayed all night in the
schcolhousc, and had suffered but lit
tie discomfort.
NV runaway mule was discovered
, in the shelter of crib in the town
his mate was frozen to death a. he la.
by the wagon.
; The rancher who owned the sheeI
was cot early looking them up. and
although nearly one-half Of them ha'
persisted on the march, or died befor'
they could be dug out, he was glat
, enough to find any Of them alive
As for the gallant dog, ] tried u
vain TO buy him of 'hc owner: n
would not consider any price. But TO
many years / used to make frcquen
: trips to the ranch for the sole pur
pose Of visit to the brave and saga
: cious .sBink."-Youth's Companion.