Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-07-24

the waves, holding the child in his mouth.
The engines were stopped as soon as pos
slble, but by that time the dog was far be-
hind In the wake of the vessel. A boat
was quickly lowered and the ships surgeon.
taking his place In it. ordered the sailors
TO pull for their lives. One could lust
make out on the leaping dancing waves the
dogs black head, holding something scar
LET in his mouth. The child had on a lit
tie jacket of scarlet cloth, and it cleaned
like spark of FIRE on the blue waves.
The mother of tn. child stands on the deck.
her eyes Straining anxiously after the boat
and the black spot upon the waves still
holding firmly to the tiny scarlet point
How long the time seems! The boat seems
fairly to creep though it speeds over the
waves as II never sped before.
Sometimes billow higher than its fell
lows hides for moment dog and child
from the anxious stralnlpg eyes. One can
almost hear the watchers hearts then
throb with fear lest the waters NAV have
swallowed them up. But the boat comes
nearer and nearer, near enough at last t.
allow of the surgeon 5 reaching over ana
lifting the child OUT of the dogs mouth,
Their sailor s strong arms pulls Nero into
the boat, and the men row swiftly back to
to the ship.
"Aliye?" Is shouted from every lin rs the
boat comes within hail of the steamer: and
as the answer comes back, "Alivel ..tbank
God!' breaks from every heart. Then
the boat comes up to the ship's side 4
hundred hands are stretched ont To helm
the brave dog on board and Good Nero !"
Brave dog, Good follow" resound or
every side. But Nero ignores the praise
showered so profusely on him; he trots
sedatel y up to the child'S mother and with
a wag of his dripping tail. looks up into
her face with his big, faithful brown ewes
1t was as If he said, at is all right. have
brought her back quite safe. -
The mother drops on her knees on the
deck, and taking his shaggy head in both
hands, kisses his wet face again and again
the tears pouring down her face In streams
There Is indeed not dry eve on board
One old sailor stands near with the fears
running down his weather-b beaten brown
face, all the while unconscious that he ia
weeping.
Well, as one can imagine, Nero was fo,
the rest of the voyage the pet and the hero
of the whole ship. He bore his honors
with modest dignity. 1t was curious
however, TO see how from that time ON he
made himself the sentinel aud body-guard
of the child he had saved. He ALWAYS
placed himself at the side of the chair of
any person in whose arms she was. his
eyes watching every movement she made
Sometimes she would he laid on the deck
with Nero only to watch her. and if in.
clined to creep cut of bounds. Nero's teeth.
fastened firmly in the skirt of her frock
promptly drew her back. 1t was as though
he thought Il have been lucky enough.
Miss Baby, to save you once from a watery
grave, but as | may not be so lucky again.
| shall take care you don t run any unnec-
eSSary risks in future.
When the steamer reached her destina-
ton, Nero received regular ovation as
he was leaving the vessel. Some one
cried, Three cheers for NeroI" and they
were givel with will. And "Good-by.
Nero, " "Good-by, good dog" resouuded
frmo every side. Every one crowded
around to give him pat on the head as he
trotted down the gang plank. To all these
demonstrations he could, of course. only
reply with wag of his plumpy tail and a
twinkle of his faithful brown eyes. He kept
close to the nurses side, and watched anx-
iously his little charges arrival on dry
land.
He was taken to the home of his little
mistress, where he lived, loved and hon
ored, until he died of old age,,,with his shay
gy, gray head resting on TIE knee of the
child Ia woman now that he had saved
His grave is in an English church-yard in
consecrated ground He lies in the burial
plot of the family to which he belonged.
His grave is marked by fair white stone,
on which is engraved
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF NERO
FAITHFULEST OF DOGS.
His portrait hangs over the chimney-piece
of AN English drawing-room, beneath
which sits, in low armchair, fair-haired
girl, who often looks up at Nero's portrait
as she tells the tale of how he sprang into
the waters of the Atlantic Ocean after her.
and held her up until help came.