The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-01-26

mule of his guard, but in vain. Al length
the latter, P"rceiNiug an opportunity, made
sudden rush upon tho lion, and IN an IN.
slant broke several Of histeeth 10y the stroke
Of hisfore-lee'. The "king oi the animals"
as he has been called, finding tina, he had
got quite enough Of the combat, skunk grlim-
bling TO his cage, and left the hardy mule
master Of the battle.
As may be readily supposed, the intrepid.
ify OF the horse is often of signal service in
the cause of humanity, comm anding AT once
our esteem and admiration. We know of
no instance in which his assistance was 50
successfully rendered as in that which once
occurred at the Cape oi Good Hope, aud
which is related by NJ. De Pages in his
I''TravelS Rounh the World" IL should
have found it difficult" says he, ''to give it
credit. had il not happened the evening be-
fore my arrival; and if, besides the pablo
notorieiy Of the fact, had not been al eye
witness ofthose vehement emotions ni sym.
patty. blended with admiration. which il
had Justly excited il the mind of every indi-
vidual nj the Cape. A violent gale Of wind
setting in from nor'h-uorth-wes' vessel in
the road dragged her anchors, was forced
on the rocks. and bulgeh; and while the
greater part of the crew fell an immediate
sacrifice to the waves, the remainder were
seen from the shore struggling lorthrrlivcs,
| by clnging TO the different pieces Of the
wreck. The sea ran drcadfuly high, and
broke over the sailors with such amazing
| Jury, that no boat whatever could venture
| oil to their assistance. Meanwhile plan
ter, considerably advanced in life, had come
| from his farm TO be a spectator Of the ship
wreck his heart was melted at the sight 81
the unhappy Sramcn, aud knowing the bold
and cnteIpi>iug spirit Of lis horse. aud hi,
| particular excellence as a swimmer. he in.
>tantly determined 10 make desperate rf
fort for their deliveraucr. He alighted. ard
| blew little brandy into his horses noSiril>
when again seating himself in the saddle, hs
| instantly pushed into the midst Of the break
ers. At first both disappeared; bu, il va,
not long before they foatcd on the surface
and swan up to the wreck, when, taking
with him two men, each Of whom held b,
one of his boots, he brongh, them safe tc
shore. This perlouS expedition he repf az
ed no schooner than sevem times, and save,
/ fourteen lives to the public; bn. on his rp
! turn the eighth time, his horse being mucl
/ fatiGued, and meeting most Formidable
wave, he lost his balance. and was over
whe'mtd in moment. The horse swan
safely to land but his gallant rider, alas
was no morc.'
Occasionally, there is so much sagacit,
and affection combined with the in'rcritn,
thu horse, That his conduct would DO cred
| it even to tile braveSt human nature. L;k'
| the dog, he has been Ei,cwn to SWIM to th'
assistance Of "A drowning creature. a.d ,h'
without any other impulse than that Of hi
own generous feelings. Captain Thoma
Brown. IN his interesting Biographical
{ Sketches of the llorSc--a work towhich ",
are indebted for several tie facts here re
corded mtutiouS TIE following graft, in.
/ incident, Which proves the possession q
something more than mere urreaSunug in
Stiuct "A little girl, the daughter of gen
/ ilemau in Warwickshire, PLAYING On III,
banks Of canal which runs through hi
grounds. had the misfortune TO fall in, an,
would III al probability have been drowned
had not a small pony, which had been Ion!
kept in the family, plunged into the stream
and brought the child safely ashore withou
the slightest injury.