The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1848-12-15

ther, farther still her little neck was
stretched; she lost her balance, and top
pied over into the roaring flood. Men
were shouting for ropes and boats, to stop
the steamer; cries of "a child overboard!'
"who can swim?" and thousand other
cries and questionirgs; but above all rose
the poor mothers heart-rending shrieks,
too painfully in earnest now; and she a
lone, in the fond instructive devotion of
maternal love, that even could she reach
her child she could only sink with her,
endeavored to leap into the water to save
her.
Suddenly Lion, followed closely by
his master, came tearing along the deck
knocking the people to right and left like
ninepins. They sprang into the boat
that hung at the stern, everybody giving
way before the determined energy of
both man and dog. Lion looked aux
iously in his masters face, and uttered a
short low bark.
"Wait," said the latter in reply; where
was she seen lastl"
There, sir" replied sailor prompt
/ ly, "there, beside that piece of plank!"
"How often has she risenl"
Twice"
The gentleman drew a long breath,
and said to his dog in low tone, "look
out!' .
And Lion did look out, with wild flash
ing eyes, and limbs that trembled with
anxiety. What a moment that was!
Every one else was passive; every other
attempt was laid aside, and all stood in
mute expectation; those who were near
enough watching the third rising of the
poor child. and those who could not see
the water keeping their eyes fixed upon
Lion. In another instant cry was rails
ed, as a golden.tressed head was seen to
emerge from the water. The noble dog
had seen her first though. and ere the
warning cry had reached his ears he had
dashed from the boat with wonderful ra
pidity, and was swimming toward the
little sufferer as though he knew that life
and death depended on his efforts.
His master marked his progress anx
iously. His face was pale as death, an(
it was only by rigidly COMPRISING then
that he could control the nervous culver
} ing of the lips. "He has herl' he ex
claimed, as Lion rose to the surface ate
long dive, holding the little Adelln'
: by the hair of her head in such manne
that her face was out ofthe water. "He
has her, and she is saved!" Down wen
the steps, and on them stood couple o
, active sailors, encouraging the brave dos
: by shouts and gestures. and ready to re
ceive his precious burthen whenhesh
! approach them. Slowly he came on
, wistfully eyeing the stops, and now an'
then looking up at his master, who wa
leaning over the side, and encouraging
3 him with his we'll known voice.
: Here you are!" cried one of the sal
= lors, seizing the little girl. She wa
. handed from one to another, and at las
j deposited in the arms ofan active lookin
), gentleman, whom everybody seemed in
3 stinctively to recognize as surgeon, an
= by him carried below. ..
Q "Now, come up, there's brave fellow
:, said the sailor, retreating to make wa
a for Lion to climb up the steps. But tn
g poor creature whlned piteously, and a
h ter one or two fruitless attempts to rails
If himself out of the water, he RENAME
y quite passive.
g Help him-help him. He is exhau'
!. ted" cried his master, fighting his wa
l, through the crowd. to go to the rescue {
y his brave favorite. By the time, ,howeve
A. he had reached the top ofthe ladder, tn
n, sailors had perceived the condition
III the dog and with some difficulty dragge
1T him from the water. With their ASST
in tance he crawled feebly up; then langui,
ID ly licked his masters hand, and stretc
at ed himself on the deck.
1t would be difficult to tell which r
if ceived the most attention-the little 81
VI under the hands of the surgeon and {
le the women, who had squeezed ther
g; selves into the cabin under the firm CO
~ viction that they were exceedingly us
ful, or the noble dog from the kind o
a rough attentions of the steamers me
Is- under the superntendence ofhis mast'
n Both the invaids we're convalescel
y, and Lion was sitting up, receiving wi
'g quiet dignity the caresses of his fren
ry when Adeline's mother came running
ch stairs; and throwing herself upon h
knees before him, and clasping him aAe
W. tionately in her arms, laid her cheek up
Ter his rough head and wept.
on Hes dirty animal, madam" said
sh gentleman, who could not forget her f
ad mer sighting remarks. Hell ma
Ill your pelisse in such state! Besides
may be mad!'
ac- She cast up her eyes with an EXPIRE
he ion Of meek reproach. They were We
Sc. fine eyes, and l think he felt it, for
as features softeued Immediately.