St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1891-07-02
THE TRUE STORY OF A DOG.

THE TRUE STORY OF A DOG.
In the year 1877 the steamship
Swallow left the Cape of Good Hope,
bound for England-''for home" the
passengers, all English, called it.
Among them was lady with child
of two years and nurse. The lady
had also brought with her a 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 a beau
tiful one, with a soft breeze blowing,
and the sun shining down brightly
on the sparkling waters. A large
and gay company of the passengers
were assembled 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 sud-
denly the mirth of all was silenced by
the loud and piercing scream of a
woman.
A nurse who had been holding
child in her arms at the side of the
vessel had lost her hold Of the leap
ing restless little one, and it 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 a leap over the yes
sells side, a 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 possible, but by that time the dog
was far behind 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 just make
out ON the ieaping, dancing waves
the dogs black head. holding some
thing scarlet in his mouth. The
child had on little jacket of scarlet
cloth, and it cleaned like a spark of
fire on the dark blue waves.
The mother of the child stands on
the deck, her eyes straining anxious
" 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 it never sped before.
Sometimes billow higher than its
fellows hides for moment dog and
child from the anxious, straining
ewes. One can almost hear the
IL. II. l, L.
fear lest the waters may have swal-
lowed them up. But the boat comes
nearer and nearer, near enough at
last to allow of the surgeons reach
ing over and lifting the child out of
the dogs mouth, then a sailors
strong arms pulled Nero into the
boat, and the men rowed swiftly
back to the ship.
Alive" is shouted from every lip
as the boat comes within hail of the
steamer; and as the answer comes
back, "Alive." a thank Cod"
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
profusely on him; he trots sedately
up to the child mother, and with a
wag of his dripping tail, looks up
into her face with his big, faithful
brown eyes. 1t was as if he said.
1T is all right; I 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 tears
running down his weather-beaten
brown face, all the while unconscious
that he is weeping.
Well, as one can ina CINE. 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, however, to see how
from that time on he made himself
the sentinel and 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 move
ment she made Sometimes she
would be laid on the deck, with Nero
only to watch her, and if inclined to
creep out 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