The mountain was cold and dark that night.
A hiker named Tom had gone out that morning and never came back.
His family called for help at sunset.
The search team arrived fast with flashlights and radios.
But the forest was huge and full of thick trees.
They didn’t know where to start.
Then someone brought Rex.
Rex was a big brown dog with a black nose and bright eyes.
He was trained to find missing people.
The team gave Rex one of Tom’s old socks to smell.
Rex sniffed it long and hard.
Then his ears went up and his tail went stiff.
He had the scent.
Rex pulled on his leash and ran toward the trees.
His handler, Sara, held on tight and followed.
The rest of the team ran behind them.
Rex moved fast through the dark forest.
He jumped over rocks and pushed through thick bushes.
He never slowed down and never stopped sniffing the air.
After twenty minutes, Rex turned sharply to the left.
He ran down a steep hill toward a small stream.
Then he stopped and barked three times.
Sara shone her flashlight ahead.
There was Tom, sitting against a big rock near the water.
His ankle was hurt and he could not walk.
He looked tired and cold, but he was alive.
“I heard you coming,” Tom said with a weak smile.
Rex ran up to Tom and licked his face.
Tom laughed softly and hugged the dog tight.
The team wrapped Tom in a warm blanket and called for help.
Soon a rescue group came and carried Tom safely down the mountain.
Everyone on the team cheered when Tom reached the bottom.
His family rushed over and held him close with tears in their eyes.
Sara knelt down and gave Rex a big pat on the head.
“Good boy,” she said quietly.
Rex wagged his tail and looked up at her with happy eyes.
That night, the whole team agreed on one thing.
Rex was the real hero of the rescue.
Without his nose, Tom might never have been found in time.
Sometimes the best search tool has four legs and a wet nose.