The morning call., 1891-07-05
SAVED BY A DOG
In MIDOCEAN.
Did Instinct Or Reason Govern The Ami
NAL in What He Did?
A True Story of How Child Was Rescued
From Death After Falling Out Of It's
Nurses Arms Into the Sea.

III tno year 49, tne steamship Swallow
left the Cape OF Good Hope, bound for Eng
land-''for home," the passengers, all Eng
fish, called it, is the way that Emma Maude
Phelps commences her true story Of dog
in Harper's Young People. Among them
was young lady with a child of years
and nurse. The lady had also brought
with her q huge, handsome Newfoundland
dog.
The voyage had lasted about six days.
No land was visible, and the island Of st.
Helena would be the nearest point. The
day was beautiful one, with a soft breeze
blowing, and the sun shining down bright
ly on the sparkling waters. A large and
gay company OF the passengers were assem-
bled on deck; merry groups of young men
and girls had clustered together; now and
then laugh rang out, or some one sang a
gay little snatch Of song, when suddenly the
mirth Of all was silenced by the loud and
piercing scream of woman.
nurse who had been holding child in
her arms at the side of the vessel had lost
her hold of the leaping, restless little one,
and 1t had fallen overheard into the sea-
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 down, something rushed
swiftly past her, there was q leap over the
vessels side, splash into the waters, and
then Nero's black head appeared above 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-
hnG In tie wake of the vessel. A boat was
quickly lowered, and the ships surgeon TAX
nj in rrAar ilrr
pull for their lives. One could just make
out on the leaping, dancing waves the dog's
black head holding something scarlet in his
mouth. The child had on a little jacket of
scarlet cloth, and it cleaned like spark Of
fire ON the dark blue waves.
The mother of the child stands on the
deck, her eyes straining auxiously 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
1alrly to creep, though it speeds over the
waves as 1t never sped before.
Sometimes billow higher than its fellows
hides Tor moment dog and child from the
anxious, straining eyes. One can almost
hear the watchers hearts then throh with
lear lest the waters may have swallowed
item up. But the boat comes nearer and
nearer, near enough at last to allow of the
surgeons reaching over aud lifting the child
out of the dog's mouth, then asailOr's strong
arm pulls Nero into the boat, and the men
row swiftly back TO the ship.
" Alive % Is shouted from every lip as the
boat came within hail of the steamer; and
as the answer came back, "AIive!' a thank
God! breaks from every heart. Then the
boat comes up to the ships side. A hundred
hands are stretched out to help the brave
dog on board, and
GOOD NERO, BRAVE DOG, GOOD FELLOW -
Resound on every side. But Nero Ignores
the praise showered so profuselv upon him
ha dot oil 10 tho
and with wag of his dripping tail, looks up
into her face with his big, faithful brown
eyes. 1t was as if Ire said. sit 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 vet face again and again.
the tears pouring down her face in streams
There is indeed not a dry eye on board. One
old sailor stands near with the tears running
down his weather-beaten brown face, all the
while unconscious that he is weeping.
Well. as one can imagine, Nero was for
the rest of the voyage the pet and hero of
the whole ship. He bore his honors with
quiet, modest dignity. 1t was curious, how.
ever, to see how from that time on he made
himself the sentinel and body-guard of the
child he had saved. He always placed him
self at the side of the chair of any person In
whose arms she was. his eyes watching
every movement she made. Sometimes she
would'be laid on the deck, with Nero only
to watch her, and if inclined to creep out of
bounds, NeruS 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 sou once
from watery grave, but as may not be SO
lucky again. l shall take care you don't run
any unnecessary 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 Neror and they were
given with will. And ''Good-by, Nero, -
"Good-by, good dog" resounded from every
side. Every one crowded around to give
him pat on the head as lie trotted down
the gang plank. To all these demonstra-
TONS he could, OF course, only reply with a
wag OF his plumy tail and a twinkle of his
faithful brown ewes. He kept close to the
nurses side, and watched anxUusly his
little charges arrival on dry land
lie was taken to the home of his little mis-
tress, where he lived, was loved and honored.
until he died of old age, with his shaggy,
gray mead resting on the knee of the child
IA woman now that he hAd saved. His
grave Is IN au English cnurch-yard in con-
secrated ground. He lies in the burial plot
OF the family to which he belonged HIS
grave is marked by a 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 a low armchair, fair-haired
girl, who often looks up at Nero's portrait
as she tells of the tale of how he sprang
into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean after
her. and held her up until help came.