THE SHEPHERD'S DOG AND THE LOST CHILD. 21

Scottish shepherds begin to learn their duties at an early
age. The day, bright at first, passed on, when a thick mist
began to rise, covering the whole country. The shepherd,
seeing this, hurried onward to gather his scattered flock,
calling his dog to help him, and leaving his little boy at a
spot where he believed that he should easily find him again.
The fog grew thicker and thicker; and so far had the flock
rambled, that some time passed before they could be gathered
together.

On his return to look for his child, the darkness was so
great that he could not find him. The anxious father wan-
dered on, calling on his child; but no answer came. His
dog, too, had disappeared. He had himself lost his way.
At length the moon rose, and then he discovered that he
was not far from his own cottage. He hastened towards it,
hoping that the child had reached it before him; but the
little boy had not come back, nor had the dog been seen.
The grief of the parents was terrible, and cannot be put into
words. No torches could be had, and the shepherd had to
wait till daylight ere he could set out with a friend or two
to assist him in his search. All day he searched in vain.
On his return, sick at heart, at nightfall, he found that his
dog had come home during the day, and after getting his
usual dinner, in the shape of a bannock, had scampered off

at full speed across the moor, being out of sight before any

one could follow him.

All night long the father waited, hoping that the dog
would return; but as the animal did not appear, he again
set off on his search as soon as it was daylight. While he
was away, the dog hurried up to the cottage, as on the day