That afternoon, by way of experiment, Ferris took Chum along when he
went to drive the sheep back from pasture to the fold. By the time he
and the dog were within a hundred yards of the pasture gate Chum began
to dance, from sheer anticipation; mincing sidewise on the tips of his
toes in true collie fashion, and varying the dance by little rushes
forward.
Link opened the crazy gate. Waiting for no further encouragement the
dog sped into the broad field and among the grazing sheep that were
distributed unevenly over the entire area of the lot.
Ordinarily--unless the sheep were ready to come home--it was a matter
of ten or fifteen minutes each evening for Link to collect them and
start them on their way. To-day, in less than three minutes, Chum had
the whole flock herded and trotting through the opening, to the lane
outside.
Nor, this time, did the sheep flee from him in the same panic dread as
in the morning. They seemed to have learned--if indeed a sheep can ever
learn anything--that Chum was their driver, not their enemy.
From the fold Link as usual went to the woodlot where his five head of
lean milch cattle were at graze. Three of the cows were waiting at the
bars for him, but one heifer and a new-dry Holstein were hidden
somewhere in the recesses of the second-growth timber.
The afternoon was hot; it had been a hot day. Link was tired. He
dreaded the labor of exploring ten acres of undergrowth for his two
missing cattle. An inspiration came to him. Pointing to the three
stolidly waiting cows at the bars he waved his arm in the general
direction of the lot and called on Chum.
"Go find 'em! Bring 'em in!"
Almost before the words were spoken Ferris regretted them. He hated to
dim the luster of his dog's earlier exploits by giving him a job beyond
his skill. And this time Chum did not flash forward with his former
zest. He stood, ears cocked, glancing uncertainly from Link to the
three cows already waiting.
Then, as he still peered doubtfully, one of the bovine trio took fright
at the dog and trotted clumsily away toward the woods. Link gave chase.
He had not gone three steps before Chum caught the idea. Whirling past
Ferris he headed off the surprised, indignant cow, and by dint of a
flurry of barks and dashes started her back toward the bars.
Her bell jangled dolefully as she obeyed the noisy urge. And from
somewhere among the bushes, two hundred yards away, a second cowbell
sounded in answer. At this distant tinkle Chum evidently grasped the
meaning of his master's earlier mandate. For he galloped away in the
direction of the sound.
And presently, with much crashing of undergrowth, appeared the
rebellious heifer, driven on by Chum. After depositing her, sulky and
plunging, at the bars, Chum vanished again--in apparent response to
another far-off bell jangle. And in three minutes more he was back at
the bars with the fifth cow.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account