The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1891-11-19

A TRUE STORY.
HOW HE SAVED BABY's LIFE AND WAS
uoNORED FOR MANY YEARS.
diapers Young People }

"Swallow" left the Cape OF Goo(
Hope bound for England. Among
tie passengers vas child of twt
years and a nurse. The old lad,
had also brought with her q huge
handsome Newfoundland dog.
The voyage had lasted about Al,
days. No land was visible, and the
island of St. Helena would be The
nearest point. The day vas beau
tlful one. with q soft breeze blowing
aud the sun shining down brightly
on the sparkling waters. n large
and gay company Of the passengers
were assembled on the deck; merry
groups of young men and girls had
clustered together; now and then 9
laugh rang out, or some one sang a
gay little snatch of song, when sud
denly the mirth of all was silenced
by the loud piercing scream Of a
woman
A nurse who had been holding 3
child in her arms at the side OF the
vessel had lost her hold of the leaps
| ing restless, little one, and it had fall
en- overheard INTO the sca-into the
great, wide Atlantic Ocean. The
poor woman, IN her despair, would
have flung herself after her charge
had not strong arms held her back.
But sooner than it can be written
dowr, something rushed quickly past
her; there was leap over the ves>
sei's side, q splash into the waters,
and then Nero's black head appear,
ed above the waYee, holding the child
IN its mouth.
The engines were stopped as soon
as possible, bnt by that time the
dog WAS far behind In the wake OF
the vessel. A boat was lickly
lowered, and the ships surgeon. tax
ing his place in it, ordered the sail
oEs to pull for their lives. One colld
jl,t make ont on the leaping, daLc-
ing waves the dogs black head hold
ing something scarlet in his mouth.
The child had on little jacket Of
scarlet cloth, and 1t cleaned like
a spark of FIRE on the dark blue wa
ters.
The mother of the child stood on
the deck her eyes straining anxious
ly after the boat, and the black spot
upon the waves still holding firmly
to the tiny scarlet point. The boat
seemed fairly TO creep, though it
sped ovei the waves as it never sped
be e'ore.
Some times a billow higher thu
others hid for moment dog and
child. But the boat came nearer
AID nearer, Tear enough at last to
allow the surgeon to reach over and
lft the child oot of the dogs mouth
then a sailors stout arms pnl)ed
Nero into the boat, and the men
rowei Witty back to the ship.
"Alive?' shouted every lip, as the
boat came within hail of the steamer
and, as the answer came back,
sAlive !" Thank God ~ came
| from every heart.
Then the boat came to the ships
side. A hundred hands were etretch-
ed nut TO help the brave dog on
board. "Good Nero," Brave Dog
GOOD Fellow" resounded on every
side. But Nero ignored the praise
| showered Sd profusely on him. He
trotted sedately up to the child's
mother and with wag of his drip
ping tail looked into her face with
his big. faithful, brown eyes, as if he
I'D, sit is ali right have brought
her back ssfe.'
The mother dropped on her knees
on the deck, snd, taking his Shaggy
head in both hands, kissed his wei
face again and again, the tears pour
ing down her face in streams. In
deed, there IVES not a dry eye or
board. One old sailor stood near
With the tears running down his
weather beaten brown face, uncon-
scious that he vas weeping.
Well, Nero vas for the rest Of The
voyage the pet and hero OF the ship
and be bore his honors with quie
dignity. 1t was curious, however
to see how from that time on hs
made himself the sentinel and body
guard of tie chlld. He Away.
placed himself at the side of The
chair Of any person In whose srms
she was. his eyes watching every
movement she made. Sometimes
sfe would be laid on tue deck, witt
only Nero TO watch her, and il in
clined to creep out OF bounds. Nero,