The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-02-13
Y Il was Newfoundland dog,
4 born Of reputable parents at
Rack Arm and decently bred

Back Arm ana uecently preu
- in Ruddy Cove. which is on
the northeast coast. He had black
hair. short, straight and wiry,-the
curly-haired breed has failed on the
island,--and broad, ample shoulders,
which his forbears had transmitted 10
him from generations OF hauling
wood.
He was heavy, awkward and ugly,
resembling somewhat great draft
horse. But he pulled with will,
Tended for himself, and within the
knowledge of men had never stolen
a fish; SO he had a high place in the
hearts of all the people of the Cove,
and safe one In their estimation.
"Skipperl Sklpperl Here, by"
The ringing call, in the voice of
young Billy Topsail, his master, a
fsherman's son, never failed to bring
the dog from the kitchen with an
eager rush, when the snow lay deep
on the rocks and all the paths Of the
wilderness were ready for the sled.
He stood stock-still for the harness,
and at the first "Hi, by! Gee up,
therew he bounded away with a
wagging tail and a glad bark. 1t was
as IL nothing pleased him so much on
a frosty morning as the prospect of u
hard days work.
If the call came in summertime
when the Skipper was doing in the
cool shadow of a flake,-a platform
of boughs for drying fish,-he
scramled to his feet, took bis clog In
his mouth and ran, all a-quiver for
what might come, to where young
Billy waited. I'm Newfoundland the
law requires that all dogs shall be
clogged as n precaution against their
killing sheep and goats which run
wild. The clog is in the form of Il
billet of wood. weighing at least
seven and half pounds. and tied to
the dogs neck.) If the clog were
taken off,-as it was almost sure to
belt meant sport in the water.
Then the Skipper would paw the
ground and whine until the stick was
flung out for him. But best of all he
loved to dive for stones.
At the peep of many a day, too, he
went out in the punt to the fishing
grounds with Billy Topsail, and there
kept the lad good company all the
day long. 1t was because he sat on
the little cuddy in the bow, as If
keeping a lookout ahead that he was
called the Skipper.
'Sure, tits u clever dog, that" was
Pillu'c hoout sTia would cnuo 1ifo
that dog would"
This was proved beyond doubt when
little Isaiah Tommy Goodman toddled
over the wharfhead, where he had been
playing with n squid. Isaiah Tommy
was four years old, and would sure
ty have been drowned had not the Skip
per strolled down the wharf just at
that moment.
The Skipper was obedient to the
instinct of all Newfoundland dogs TO
drag the sons of men from the water.
He plunged IL and caught Isaiah Tom
my by the collar of his pinafore. Still
following his instinct, he kept the
full strokes of his fore paws while he
t0wed him to shore Then the outcry
which Isaiah Tommy Immediately set
up brought his mother to complete
the rescue.
For this deed the Skipper was petted
day and half. and fed with fried
caplin and salt pork, to his evident
qualification. No doubt he was per-
suaded that he had acted worthily.
However that be, he continued in
merry moods, in affectionate behavior,
in honesty-although the fish were
even then drying on the flakes, all ex-
posed, and he carried his clog like Il
hero.
Skipper" Billy TopsalI would ejac-
ulate, you do be clever dogr
One day in the fall of the year, when
high winds spring suddenly from the
land, Billy Topsall was fishing from
the punt, the Never Give Up, over
the shadows of Molly's Head 1t was
fish weather." as the Ruddy Cove
men say-gray, cold and misty The
harbor entrance lay two miles TO the
southwest The bluffs which marked
lt We're hardly dlscernible, for the mist
hung thick off the shore. Four punts
and skin We're bobbing half mile
Iarther out to sea, their crews fishing
with hook and line over the side
Thicker weather threatened. and fine
day was near spent
"'Tis time to be off home. by" said
Billy to the dog. "'Tls getting thjcE
In the souwest.''
The Skipper stretched himself and
wagged his tail. He had no word tc
say, but Billy, who, like all Fishermen
In remote places, had formed the habit
or talking to himself. supplied the
answer.
"'Tis that, Billy, by" said he. 9Th,
punts as much as one hand can man
age In fair wind. An tits dead beat
to the harbor now"
Then Billy said word for himself
wen put in for ballast. The punt,
too light for u gale"
E,e sculled the punt to the littl,
cove by the Head and there loaded hel
with rocks. Her sails, mainsail ant
tiny jib We're spread, and she wa,
headed for Grassy Island, on the frs
leg OF her beat into the wind. By thi,
time the other two punts were undel
way, and the sails of the skiff wer,
nuttering as her crew prepared I,
Dent nome for The night The Neyal