Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1910-03-03
The Lost Laird
and His Dog
B. y G. E L II 5

farm where on many occasions | had
been welcome guest. The farm
house was pleasantly located at the
loot OF long glen and sheltered by
some fine old fir trees from the blasts
which in winter swept down the val
ley.
II was fine winter day when and
a friend arrived at Loeb Goil-he~1.
where our host. or. as he was called.
the laird, had appointed to meet us.
and We received a right hearty well
come on landing from the steamer. He
had with him his favorite collie. Gaze
sar, which ] had known as a puppy.
out whatever claim he had to beauty
In his youth had vanished. He had
then a fine. glossy coat of black and
white, his face was well marked and
bushy tail hung "o'er his hurdles"
Now alas! that appendage was sadly
imperfect, his ears were "ribboned."
his face scared in many places and
he had but one eye left. Caesar now
looked anything but an amiable beau
~. His master was, however, proud
OF him as sheep dog.
Soon afterward we did ample Justice
to substantial meal of sleeps head
broth and roast mutton, over which
we discussed our plans for spending
the next few days. Our host promised
us some good sport if we were pre-
pared to face the hills. where the
white hares were plentiful; and we
gladly availed ourselves of the offer
On one of our walks, when we were
far up on the hills and several miles
from the farmhouse, the laird marked
sheep, telling us at the same time
that he would on the morrow give us
an example of Caesars skill The
sheep was selected as a contribution
To the dinner which was to be given
to the shepherds and their families at
Cairndhu on New Years day
At breakfast next morning the laird
told us that Caesar was to fetch down
the marked sheep from the hills
There is a gate" he said, about four
miles down the loch side and by the
time we get there the dog and the
sheep will not be far off"
We went out into the yard and his
master having spoken a few words in
0oCAN W NhC oOc ava SdtSdl went.
clearing the rough stone bikes in
single bounds. as he ran up the noun
tain. Away he went higher and
higher, until we lost sight of him al
together and only a distant bark
echoed at intervals down the glen
An hours brisk walk brought us to
the appointed place and. sure enough.
there was Caesar with his charge safe
and sound. To one only slightly ac.
quainted with the working of colliea
1t seemed marvellous how the dos
could have singled out and brought in
the sheep from so great a distance in
so short a time
All" said the laird, at needs a bit
of generalship to do it. but Caesar.
like his namesake, is a great general.
He knew perfectly we'll what was
wanted when l marked that sheep yes
| terday, and this morning. when ! start
| ed him off. he made straight for the
place where it was likely to be found;
his difficulty then was to separate IL
from the rest of the flock. for. as you
know, sheep always follow each other.
To manage this he gets between the
crouching down among the bracken
and starting up suddenly when the
| sheep approach he frightens them and
by constantly repeating this strata
gem he gradually increases the dis
lance between the flock and the single
sheep. When the separation is ac-
complished his task becomes easy
and he has then only to drive the ami
/ NAL to the appointed place.
Caesar must have gone through an
amazing amount of work in that short
time. but he seemed thoroughly to APP
| preciate his masters account of his
performance as he lay on the grass,
his tongue hanging out and his tail
wagging with satisfaction.
Meanwhile the snow had been and
was falling fast; it lay several inches
deep on the road outside and a keen
north wind was blowing which would
cause heavy drifts on the mountains
so the laird congratulated himself
upon having got his fiocks to safer
shelters in time. AS the fall of snow
seemed likely to continue. he proposed
making his way back to the farm and
sending a trap to convey us home
| later on.
Fully two hours elapsed and we
were now waiting somewhat anxiously
for the arrival of the trap, when we
heard the most dismal bowling of q
dog outside. At first we took no par
ticular notice of it, but after a time
one of the men came in and told lis
that Caesar seemed to be looking for
someone. The man himself was m
der the influence of the dew" of his
native mountains and as we opened
the door to admit the dog he stumbled
back to the shed, where the pipes con
tinued to skirl. Caesar shook the
half-melted snow from his back. but
no words would pacify him and he
continued to give vent to the most IN
earthly bowls and at the same time
kept making for the door, as if to in
duce us to follow him.
II am afraid there is something Tn,
matter" said my companion; 1--WE hat
|