For all of the children (young and old) who have ever experienced Nantucket. May their dreams guide their lives with energy and laughter. When you are done reading the Legend, answer the questions in our contest and earn a Yellow Dog sticker.

Once upon a time, off the coast of Cape Cod, there was a legendary island known as Nantucket.

Explorers sent word back to England about a beautiful place to live. Captain Goode said "Nantucket has cranberry bogs and turtle ponds and neat things for every kid." So early one morning in 1601, on the most courageous adventure in history, the Goode family set out on a ship from England. They hoped to soon reach the far away island known as Nantucket.

Captain Goode boarded the ship with his family in tow. Following behind were his wife, a young boy, and three young girls. Behind these four children followed another. Around his neck he wore a musical collar. It was white with silver and gold balls. The collar made a magical sound. Yellow Dog was excited and very eager to sail. For him a trip with the family would never be missed.

Being very courageous Yellow Dog leapt aboard the ship. Captain Goode said "The voyage will be long and it won't last forever. If we behave ourselves, our reward will be filled with pleasure."

Yellow Dog and his family started sailing west toward the setting sun. It was getting near dusk and it felt like the trip had just begun. The far away island known as Nantucket would soon be their new home.

During the first few days of the journey, Yellow Dog stood on the bow of the ship. He was patiently waiting to arrive on Nantucket. Yellow Dog helped to guide the ship across the vast ocean blue with his keen sense of smell and sight. This was to Captain Goode's delight.

The Goode family taught Yellow Dog to fetch and to speak. Yellow Dog loved to bark. He would bark at the sound of passing whales going the other way. Sometimes he would bark at his own shadow and begin chasing his own cutter-like tail. The Goodes and their companion were well on their way toward Nantucket Bay.

Each of the children brought along a few of their favorite things for the journey. One of Lizzy's favorite toys was a whistle. This children's toy was sort of a symbol. A friend gave it to her when she first embarked on her trip. She blew the whistle at passing ships. Blowing the whistle acted as a symbol of friendship, almost like a friendly wave or smile.

Each time the whistle was blown Yellow Dog would bark. He loved to hear the sound of that whistle. Yellow Dog would bark at the whistle and the children would giggle. Soon the ship was surrounded by sounds of whistles, barks, and giggles.

The Goode family traveled for days. Each night they would have wonderful dreams while thinking of the far away island. They dreamt of its sandy beaches and its friendly people. They thought about how nice it would be to finally arrive.

On Nantucket Island, Papa Goode would start a business and raise his family of four. He wished of making things and selling them door to door. His young children would attend a new school and make new friends. They knew that the island would bring a great deal of fun. Yellow Dog would play in the ocean and bathe in the warm Nantucket sun.

During the voyage, Captain Goode's favorite time of day was dinner. Dinner was a time for sharing and talking about the day. The family shared stories and talked about the enormous whales that passed by the ship. The family kept each other company. They kept one another safe. They held each other on the cold ocean going nights, knowing that they would soon arrive in a new place.

"This is a journey that you will never forget," Mother Goode said, "Sleep well and we will soon arrive on Nantucket." Mother Goode spoke about the good times ahead. While asleep that night the children were dreaming of flying kites and making new friends.

One night, while the family was asleep, Yellow Dog spotted Nantucket way off in the distance. He ran from the bow of the boat and pranced about the cabin. He howled and barked. He began to lick the faces of Lizzy and Ben. Yellow Dog danced about their beds. Her tugged at their blankets and tried to wake them out of sleepy land.

Very eager to show the family what he saw, Yellow Dog slapped the floor of the hold with his big yellow paw. He tried to make noise while racing throughout the cabin. The sounds of the island were calling Yellow Dog ashore.

Unable to wake the family, Yellow Dog went above and pranced about the deck. He could not wait any longer. He ran to the bow of the ship. Seeing Nantucket way off in the distance, Yellow Dog jumped in the ocean and began to swim. Yellow Dog's waterproof coat, which kept him warm on the cold sea faring nights, also kept him afloat. His cutter like tail helped him to navigate safely amid the waves of the ocean.

His webbed feet gave him speed and Yellow Dog arrived on Nantucket before the Goode's ship. Arriving to shore on Cisco beach, he fell fast asleep beside the tide while waiting for his family to arrive.

While asleep on Cisco beach, Yellow Dog was awakened the next morning by a family of Native Americans. He was the first dog the Native children had ever seen on the island of Nantucket. They fed him and brushed his smooth golden coat.

The children threw a stick into the crashing waves and Yellow Dog went into the water after it. They were amazed that he could float. Yellow Dog was well taken care by the Native American children of Nantucket.

The children fed him and played with him and called him their own. He was lonely without his family and he wanted to return home. The Native American children reassured him that his family would soon arrive.

Yellow Dog missed his family and he wished that he would see them soon. He spent most days bathing in the sun. At night he slept under the stars and the smiling moon.

He swam the length of the island and walked along its shores. Yellow Dog spent time swimming near Old Man Shoal and Pockik Rip. He played in the fields and wished a bit more. He fell sleep each night dreaming of being with his family.

Each day Yellow Dog would stand at the top of Folger Hill, waiting to see his family's ship arrive in Nantucket harbor. From the top of the hill, Yellow Dog was able to see wide and far. He watched many ships enter the harbor. He spotted a few whales spouting water far out near a sand bar.

Yellow Dog chased turtles and rabbits and other friendly things. He thought about the arrival of his family and the joy that it would bring. The rocks were crashing against the high tide and the moon was soon over head. He wished upon the stars at night as the crickets began to sing. He hoped to be together with his family again.

One morning while sleeping atop Folger Hill, Yellow Dog heard Lizzy's voice off shore. He knew that his family would soon arrive on Nantucket. Yellow Dog began barking joyfully. It sounded like a cross between a howl and a roar. He raced up and down the island trying to spot the great ship. He ran to the edge of the water so that his family would not be missed.

The fog surrounding the island was swirling and boy was it thick. It was early and the sun did not yet rise. Sailing toward Nantucket in the thick island fog, the Goodes could not see the shore. This ship was in danger of crashing against Old Man Shoal.

After hearing Yellow Dog bark, Lizzy began to blow her whistle. Getting Yellow Dog's attention was her goal. The children knew that Yellow Dog would help guide the ship safely ashore. The sound of the whistle made Yellow Dog bark. Yellow Dog's bark made the children laugh and giggle the same as long before.

Yellow Dog raced along the ocean edge barking with joy. His bark was louder than the laughter of each of the girls and boy. While following Yellow Dog's great bark, Captain Goode was able to steer the ship safely ashore. He safely cleared Old Man Shoal and the Goode family arrived on Nantucket safe at last.

The Goodes settled on Nantucket in a nice cozy house. The house had two levels and beds for six. It had a big warm living room. This was where the children sat by the fireplace and read books and played sticks. It was by the fireplace that the children told stories and spoke about their day at school.

Yellow Dog lived a long and happy life on Nantucket. He loved to look out over the island while sitting atop Folger Hill. From here he was able to see wide and far. Hearing ships entering the harbor amidst the thick Nantucket Fog, Yellow Dog would race to the water and guide many other families to the island with his friendly howl and roar. He helped many captains steer their ships clear of the dangerous rocks and shoals, which surrounded Nantucket.

Saving many lives before the existence of the first lighthouse, Yellow Dog is known as Nantucket's original fog warning.

Legend has it that when he was very old, Yellow Dog drifted off one August evening with the thick Nantucket Fog. If children on Nantucket blow a whistle and listen closely on a foggy night, they may hear the bark of the Yellow Dog echoing to every sailor's delight.

Folger Hill is the highest point on the island of Nantucket at 109 feet above sea level.

Earliest records of Nantucket date back to 1602 and were written by Bartholomew Gosnold.

Old Man Shoal is located off 'Sconset.

Think you know the Legend? Answer the four questions in our contest to earn a Yellow Dog sticker.