Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-06-16
Canine sngRcity.


by dog in carrying out the dictates Of the.
animal passion for revenge. The jetiy
which at that time stretched along the small
harbor was at that time used as prone
made by the elite among the sojourners on
the coast, where, after the heat of the long
summer days, they legaied themselves
with the fresh evening breezes walled in
from the sea. Among the frequenters of
this fashionable resort was gentleman Of
some position, who was the owner of fine
Newfoundland dog, which inherited the
time-honored possession of that noble
breed very great power and facility in
swimming; and at the period Of the eve
ming when the jetty was most crowded
with promenaders, his master delighted to
put this animal through series of aquatic
performances for the entertainment of as
sembled spectators. Amusement being at
a premium on the coast, these nightly per-
formances grew into something like an "in-
stitution," and the brave "Captain"-for
such was his sDame-speedily became uni
versal favorite on the jetty. 1t happened,
however, that among the new arrivals on
the coast there came certain Major in Her
Majesty's army, accompanied by two bull
dogs of unusual size and strength, and of
very great value; but value in bulldog
being inversely proportionate to its beauty,
the appearance Of the Major and his dogs
excit cd no very enthusiastic pleasure
among the aesthetic strollers of the jetty.
On the first night on which the Major pre-
sented himself, nothing unusual occurred /;
and Captain dived and swan as before.
But on the SECOND evening, the brave old
favorite was walking quietly behind his
master down the jetiy, when, as they were
passing by the Major and his dogs, one of
these ugly brutes flew at Captain, and
caught him by the neck in such way as
to rem der his great size utterly useless for
his defence. A violent struggle ensued,
but the bull dog came oil the victor, for he
stuck TO his foe like leech, and could on
ly be forced TO release his hold by the in
sertion of bar OF iron between his teeth.
The indignation of The bystanders against
the Major was, of course, very great and
its fervor was not little increased when
they saw the poor Captain vending his way
homeward, bleeding, and bearing all the
marks OF defeat. Some two or three eve
nings aGter this occurrence, when Captain
gain made his appearance on the Jelly, he
looked quite crestfallen, bore his tail be-
tween his legs, and stuck closely to the
heels of his master. That evening passed
away quietly, and the next, and the next,
and so on for about week-Captain still
bearing the aspect of mourning. But one
evening, about eight or len days after the
above encounter, as the Major was march
ing in his usual pompous manner along
the jeity accompanied by his dogs, some
th ng attracted his attention in the water,
and walking 10 the very edge of the jetty,
he stood for moment looking down into
the sea. Scarcely had the two bulldogs
taken up their stand beside their master,
when Captain, seizng the opportunity for
which he had SO long looked, rushed at his
former conqueror, and catching him by the
back of the neck jumped off the jetty with
his foe in his mouth, down some twenty
feet or more, into the sea. Once in the wa
ter, the power of his enemy was crippled,
while Captain was altogether in his own
element and easily overcoming all efforts
at resistance, he succeeded in resolutely
keeping the bulldogs head under water
The excitement on The shore was of course
intense. The Major shouted, and called
out "My dog! my beautiful dog Will
no one save him?" But nc one seemed at
all inclined to interfere, or TO risk their
lives for the ugly dog. At length the Maj
or called out: "Pllgive fifty pounds to any
one who will save my dog y and soon af-
terward boat which lay at some little dis
tance pulled up to the rescue. Even then,
however, it was only by striking Captain
on the head with the oars that he could be
forced TO release his victim, which was TAX
en- into the boat quite senseless from ex-
hauston and suffocation, and was with diff
fculty brought to itself again. Captain, on
the other hand, swan in triumph to the
shore, amid the plaudits of the spectators,
who shared, in sympathy, at least, his we'll
earn ed honors of revenge. More remark.
able than the sagacity in carrying out the
desire for revenge displayed by the New
foundland dog in the above case, is that
which the following narrative illustrates
a gentleman of wealth and position in Lon
don had some years ago a country-hous
and farm about sixty miles from the me-
tropolis. At this country residence he kept
a number Of dogs, and among them a very
large mastiff and Scotch terrier; and al
the close of one of his summer residences
in the country, he resolved TO bring this
terrier with him TO London for the winter
season. There being no railway TO that
particular part OF the country, the dog
trave led with the servants in a post
riage, and on his arrival at the town-house
was brought out TO the stable where a large
Newfoundland dog was kept as watch
dog. This latter individual looked with
anything but pleasure on the arrival Of the
little intruder from the country, and con-
sequently the Scotch terrier bad not been
very long in his new homo when this ca
nine master of the stable attacked him,
and, in the language of human beings,
gave him sound thrashing. The little an
imal, could, of course, never hope by him
self 20 cbastise his host for this inhospita-
BILE welcome, but he determined by some
agency chastisement should come. Ac-
cordingly, he lay very quiet that night in a
remote corner OF the stable, but when morn
ing had fully shone forth he was nowhere
to be found. Search was made for him, as
the phrase says, high and low, but without
success, and the conclusion reluctantly ar
rived at was that he had been stolen. On
the third morning after his disappearance,
however, he again showed himself in Lon
don, but this time not alone; for, to the
amazement of every one, he entered the
stable attended by the big mastif from
Kent. This great brute had no sooner ar