[Illustration] The Shepherd of the Hills by Harold Bell Wright 1907 TO FRANCES, MY WIFE IN MEMORY OF THAT BEAUTIFUL SUMMER IN THE OZARK HILLS, WHEN, SO OFTEN, WE FOLLOWED THE OLD TRAIL AROUND THE RISE OF MUTTON HOLLOW—THE TRAIL THAT IS NOBODY KNOWS HOW OLD—AND FROM SAMMY’S LOOKOUT WATCHED THE DAY GO OVER THE WESTERN RIDGES. _“That all with one consent praise new-born gawds, Tho they are made and moulded of things past, And give to dust that is a little gilt More laud than gilt o’er-dusted.”_ TROILUS AND CRESSIDA. ACT 3; SC. 3. Contents CHAPTER I. THE STRANGER CHAPTER II. SAMMY LANE CHAPTER III. THE VOICE FROM OUT THE MISTS CHAPTER IV. A CHAT WITH AUNT MOLLIE CHAPTER V. “JEST NOBODY.” CHAPTER VI. THE STORY CHAPTER VII. WHAT IS LOVE? CHAPTER VIII. “WHY AIN’T WE GOT NO FOLKS.” CHAPTER IX. SAMMY LANE’S FOLKS CHAPTER X. A FEAT OF STRENGTH AND A CHALLENGE CHAPTER XI. OLLIE STEWART’S GOOD-BY CHAPTER XII. THE SHEPHERD AND HIS FLOCK CHAPTER XIII. SAMMY LANE’S AMBITION CHAPTER XIV. THE COMMON YELLER KIND CHAPTER XV. THE PARTY AT FORD’S CHAPTER XVI. ON THE WAY HOME CHAPTER XVII. WHAT HAPPENED AT THE RANCH CHAPTER XVIII. LEARNING TO BE A LADY CHAPTER XIX. THE DROUGHT CHAPTER XX. THE SHEPHERD WRITES A LETTER CHAPTER XXI. GOD’S GOLD CHAPTER XXII. A LETTER FROM OLLIE STEWART CHAPTER XXIII. OLLIE COMES HOME CHAPTER XXIV. WHAT MAKES A MAN CHAPTER XXV. YOUNG MATT REMEMBERS CHAPTER XXVI. OLLIE’S DILEMMA CHAPTER XXVII. THE CHAMPION CHAPTER XXVIII. WHAT PETE TOLD SAMMY CHAPTER XXIX. JIM LANE MAKES A PROMISE CHAPTER XXX. SAMMY GRADUATES CHAPTER XXXI. CASTLE BUILDING CHAPTER XXXII. PREPARATION CHAPTER XXXIII. A RIDE IN THE NIGHT CHAPTER XXXIV. JIM LANE KEEPS HIS PROMISE CHAPTER XXXV. “I WILL LIFT UP MINE EYES UNTO THE HILLS.” CHAPTER XXXVI. ANOTHER STRANGER CHAPTER XXXVII. OLD FRIENDS CHAPTER XXXVIII. I AIN’T NOBODY NO MORE CHAPTER XXXIX. A MATTER OF HOURS CHAPTER XL. THE SHEPHERD’S MISSION CHAPTER XLI. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY CHAPTER XLII. THE WAY OF THE LOWER TRAIL CHAPTER XLIII. POOR PETE CHAPTER XLIV. THE TRAIL ON THE SUNLIT HILLS CHAPTER XLV. SOME YEARS LATER CHAPTER I. THE STRANGER. It was corn-planting time, when the stranger followed the Old Trail into the Mutton Hollow neighborhood. All day a fine rain had fallen steadily, and the mists hung heavy over the valley. The lower hills were wrapped as in a winding sheet; dank and cold. The trees were dripping with moisture. The stranger looked tired and wet.