One of the occupations in Australia is sheep-raising. There are
large ranches upon which many sheep and lambs find food, and the
shepherds guard their own.
One day a man was arrested for stealing a sheep. The man claimed
that the sheep was his own, that it had been missing from his
flock for some days, but as soon as he saw the animal he knew
him.
The other man claimed the sheep, and said he had owned him since
he was a lamb, and that he had never been away from the flock.
The judge was puzzled how to decide the matter. At last he sent
for the sheep. He first took the man in whose possession the
sheep was found to the courtyard, and told him to call the sheep.
The animal made no response, only to raise his head and look
frightened, as if in a strange place and among strangers.
Bidding the officers take the man back to the court-room, he
told them to bring down the defendant. The accused man did not
wait until he entered the yard, but at the gate, and where the
sheep could not see him, he began a peculiar call. At once the
sheep bounded toward the gate, and by his actions showed that a
familiar voice was calling.
“His own knows him,” said the judge. (Text.)
(3201)