The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1891-12-12
STORY OF A FAITHFUL DOG.
How lie Rescue "a Chiid From a watrry
Grave in NJ i'd Ocean.

swallow left the Cape of Good Hope.
bound for England--''fo home" the
| passengers. all English, called it.
Among them was a lady with child
oil two years and nurse. The lady
had also brought with her huge hand
some Newfoundland dog.
The VOYAGE had lasted about six
days. No land was visible. and the
island of II. Helena would be the near
est point The day was beautiful
one, with soft breeze blowing, and
The sun shining down brightly on the
| sparkling waters. 4 large and gay
company OF the passenger, were as
srmblcd on deck; merry groups of
| Young men and girls had clustered to-
| -"t"tr; now aud then II laugh rang out.
or some one sang gay little snatch of
song when suddenly the mirth of all
was silenced by the loud and piercing
| scream ot woman.
A nurse WHO had been holding
| child III her arms AT tie side of the
vessel had lost her hold of the leaping,
RESTLESS lIItle one, and il had fallen
| overheard into the sca--into the great,
| wide Atlantic Ocean. The poor woman.
in her despair. would have flung her
| self after her charge had not strong
| arms held her back. But sooner than
| it can he written down, something
| rushed swiftly past her; there was
| leap over the vessel ; side.a splash into
the waters, and then Ncro's black head
| appeared above the waves. Folding the
child in his mouth.
The engines were stopped AS soon as
| I'm ht huf .
| far behind in the wake of the vessel.
ships surgeon. taking his place in it.
ordered the sailors to pun for their
| lives One couid just make out on
| the leapiug. dancing waves the dogs
| black head. holding something scarlet
| IN his mouth. The child had on little
Jacket of scarlet cloth. and it cleaned
| like a spark Of tire on tue dark blue
| waves.
The mother of the child stands on
| Tie deck. her eyes straining anxiouSly
after the boat. and the black spot upon
| the waves still holding firmly 10 the
tiny scarlet point. How long the time
| seems! The boat seems fairly To creep.
| though it speeds over the waves as it
never sped before.
Sometimes II biilow higher than its
fellows hides for "A moment dog and
child from the anxious. Sirainlng eyes.
One can almost hear the watchers
hearts then thrOb with fear lest the
waters may have swallowed them up.
But the boat comes nearer and nearer.
near enough al last To allow of the
surgeons reaching over and lifting the
| child out of the dogs mouth, lhen
sailors strong arm pulls Nero into the
boat, aud the men row swiftly back 10
the ship.
"Alive?" is shouted from every lip
ia the boat comes within hail of the
steamer: and as the answer comes
back, 'Alive!' a thank God" breaks
from every heart. Then the boat comes
up to the ships side. 4 hundred hands
are stretched out to help the brave dog
an board, and Good Nero, Brave
log. Good fellow" resounded on
every side. But Nero ignores the
praise showered so proiu>cly on him;
he trots sedatcly up 10 the child's
mother and with Il wag OF his dripping
tail, looks up into her face with his big,
faithful brown ewes. Ii was AS if he
| said 1t j. NIL right; have brought
he! back quite sale
The mother drops ON her knees on
! the deck. and taking his shaggy head
ia norh hands kisses his wet face again
and again, The tears pouring down her
! face ia streams. There i indeed not
| Il dry eye on board. One u.d sailor
stands near with the tears running
down his weaIhcr-heaten brown face,
| all the while unconscious laa; he is
wcrulu@.
Well. ~ one can imagine. Nero was
for 4 e. rest oi the Yu,nwc lh. net and
hero "t Illr Whnl" ship he bore his
h"n"rs Win quiet, m'"tc.l dignity. IL
was curious, however. to see how from
hat time on he made himself the
sentinel and body-guard ol l..r child he
had saved. He always placed himself
al tie side of the chair Of AT. person
in who's" arms she was. his ryrs watch
ing every movement she madn Some
ines >he would be laid on lrr deck,
with Nero only to watch her and if
inclined 10 creep out OF bounds Neros
teeth. fastened firmly in the kirt of
her trock. promptly drew her lack 1t
was rs though he thought, Il have
been lucky enough. Miss Baby. to save
you once from watcry grave, but as
may not he so lucky again. ..,,ll take
care you don't run any unnecessary
risks in future
When the steamer reached her des-
lination, Nero received regu'ar ova-
ton as he was leaving the vessel.
Some one cried. Three cheers for
NeroG' and they were given with a
will. And 'Good-by. Nero." Good
by. good dog resounded from every
side. Every one crowded around to
give him pat on the head Us Ae trotted
down the gang-plank. To all these
demonstrations he could. of course. only
reply with wag of his plumy tail and
twinkle of his faithful brown ewes.
He kept close TO the nurses side, and
watched anxiously his little charges
arrival on dry land.
He was taken 10 the home Of his lit
tie mistress. where he lived. loved and
honored. until he died of old are, with
his shaggy. gray head resting on the
knee of the child "a woman unwl tho,