Old Fetch was a shepherd dog, and lived in the Highlands of the Hudson. His master kept nearly a dozen cows, and they ranged at will among the hills during the day. When the sun was low in the west, his master would say to his dog, "Bring the cows home;" and it was because the dog did his task so well that he was called Fetch.
One sultry day, he departed as usual upon his evening task. From scattered, shady, and grassy nooks, he had last gathered all the cattle into the mountain road leading to the distant barn-yard.
A part of the road ran through a low, moist spot bordered by a thicket of black alder; and into this one of the cows pushed her way, and stood quietly. The others passed on, followed some distance in the rear by Fetch.
