Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-09-07
SAVED BY A DOG.


5ers III their "Anecdotes of Dogs" of
sagacity and personal attachment in the
shepherds dog, occurred about II half
century ago among the Gmmpixu noun
tans. In one Of his excurs ions to his
distant focks, Il shepherd tonk with him
one of his children. After traversing the
hills for some time, attended by his dog,
the shepherd found himself under the
necessity Of ascending summit some
distance to have II more extensive view OF
his range. AS the ascent was too tatigu-
ing for the child, he lett i'm ON small
plain at thabottam with the strict njunc
tion not to stir from it till his return
Scarcely, however, hsd be gained the
summit, when the prizm WAS suddenly
darkened by one of those impenetrnhle
mists which frequently descend - rapid
| ly among these mountains n, in the space
of a few moments, almost turn day into
night. The anxious father hnstened back
to find his child, but owing to the unusal
darkness and his own trepidation, he un
fortunately missed his way in the Ges
cent. After IL truitless search uf many
hours among the dangerous morasscs and
cataracts with which these mountains
abound. he was at stovertaken by night.
Still wandering on without knowing
whittier, he nj length came tD the verge
of the mist, and 10y The light at the moon
discovered that he had reached the bot
tom OF the valley, ana was within II short
distance OF his cottage. To renew the
search that night was equally huitIe,s
and dangerous. He was thc,eorc oblig
ed to return TO his cottage, having lost
both his child and his dog, which Ind
attended him faithfully for years. Next
morning, 10y dnybieak, the shepherd, ac-
companied by buud ot his neighbors,
set out in seaIch Of his chi d; but alter tt
day spent in frutle,s fatigue, he was at
last compelled by the approach OF night
to descend from the mountain. On re-
turring To his cottage he found that the
dog which he had lost the. duy before had
Dttil Ibibt. Hl'u WI ltCtlN lllS u HitNt VI
cake, hid instantly started off ngnin.
For several successive days the shepherd
renewed the search for the child, and
still on returning at evening disappointed
to- il cottage, he found TINT the dog had
been home, and on receiving his usual
allowance of cnke had instantly disup-
poured. Struck with this singular cir
cumstnncc. he remained ut home one day
nnd when the dog rs usual departed with
his piece Of cake, he resolved to lolo~
him and find out the cause of his strange
procedure The dog led the way to II
caiaract al some distance from The spot
where the shepherd had left his child &.
The bank of the cataract almost joined Mt
tho top, set, srpamted by M abyss of an
immense depth, presented that appearance
which 50 often ustunis hes nnd appnls the,
travellers who frequent tina Glnmpinn
mountains, And indcnte- that these stu
pendous chasms we're no. the silent work
OF timo but The sudden effect Of some VIC
lent cunvulsions of The earth. Down one
) ofthe.e rugged and almost pc peudiculal
descents the dog began without hesitation
to- make his way, an aL last disappeared
into cave, the mouth of which was al
most upon level with the torrent. The
shepherd with difficulty followed, bat on
entering the cnve, what were hi emotions
when he hcheld hi, chiiG eating with
much sati-fnctun The cake which the dog
had Just brought him, white the faithful
animal stood by cycling hi. young chafg"
with the utmost conp.acence. From the
situation in which the child WINS found
il appears that he had wandered to the
brink of the precipice, and then either
fallen or scrambled down till he reached
the cave, which the dread Of the torren t
hnG afterward prevented him from quit
ting. The dog, by menus OF his accent,
had trtced him to the spot, and alter
wards prevented him from starving by
giving up to him his own daily allowance.
He appeared never 10 hnye quilted the
child by night or day, except wnen it was
necessary to 60 for his food, aud then he
was always seen running at full speed to
and irsm the cottage.