St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1892-03-31
THE TRUE STORY OLA DOG.

In the year 1887 the steamship
Swallow left the Cape ofGood Hope,
bound for Engla nd for home"-the
passengers, all English, called it.
Among them was a lady with child
of two years and a nurse. The lady
had also brought with her 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 beauti-
full one with soft breeze blowing,
and the sun shining down brightly
on the sparkling waters. A large
and gay company of the passengers
were assembled on the deck; sudden
lv the mirth of all was silenced by
the 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 leaping,
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 thrown herself after her charge
had not strong arms held her back.
But sooner than can be written
down, something rushed swiftly past
her there was a leap over the vessels
side, splash into the waters, and
then Nero's black head appeared
above the waters, holding the child
in it's 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 leaping dancing waves
the dogs black head, holding some
thing scarlet in his mouth. The child
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
ly after the boat, and the black upon
the waves still holding firmly 10 the
tiny scarlet point. Sometimes bill
low higher than its fellows hides for
a moment dog and child from the
anxious, straIning eyes. One can al
most hear the watchers hearts thrOb
with fear lest the waters 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 sailors
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 comes within hail OF the
steamer; and as the answer comes
back, "Alivel " 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" 1esOundS on every side. But
Nero ignores the praise showered so
profusely on him he trots sedately
up to the child's mother, and with a
wag of his dripping tail, looks up in
to her face with his big faithful
brown eyes. 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 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, however, to see how
from that time on he made himself
the body-guard and sentinel of the
child he had saved. He always
placed himself at the side of the chair
of any person in whose arms she was,
watching every moment she made.
Sometimes she was laid on the deck,
with only Nero to watch her, and if
inclined to creep out of bounds, Ne
ro's teeth, fastened firmly in the
shirt of her frock, promptly drew her
back. 1t was as though he thought,
81 have been lucky enough, Miss
Baby, to save you once from watery
grave, but as may not PESO lucky
again, l shall take care you don't
run any unnecessary risks in future
When the steamer reached its des-
tination, Nero received a regular
ovation as he was leaving the vessel.
Some one cried, Three cheers for