Page 95 - Jack's victory and other stories about dogs

liis way in the descent. After a fruitless search

of many hours amongst the dangerous morasses
and cataracts -with which these mountains abound,

he was at length overtaken by night. Still

wandering on without knowing whither, he at

length came to the verge of the mist, a:id by the

light of the moon discovered that lie had reached
the bottom of the valley, and was now within a

short distance of his cottage. To renew the

search that night was equally fruitless and

dangerous. He was therefore obliged to return
Q
O
home, having lost both his child and bis dog,
which had attended him faithfully for years.

Next morning by daybreak the shepherd,

accompanied by a band of neighbours, set out to
seek the child; but after a day spent in fruitless

fatigue, they were at last compelled by the

approach of night to descend from the mountain.

On returning to his cottage the shepherd learned

that the dog which he had lost the day before
had been home, and on receiving a piece of oat-

meal-cake had instantly gone oil' again, For

several successive days the shepherd renewed his