The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-02-20


hair. short, straight and wiry,-the
curly-haired breed has failed on the
island,-and broad. ample shoulders,
which his forbears had transmitted TO
him from generations of hauling
wood.
He was heavy, awkward and ugly,
resembling somewhat Il great draft
horse. But he pulled With a Will,
Tended for himself, and within the
knowledge of men had never stolen
fish; so he had a high place IN the
hearts of all the people OF the Cove,
and safe one in their estimation.
Skipper: Skipper! Here, BY"
The ringing call, in the voice Of
young Billy Tcpsail, his master, 4
tishermans 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 We're 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 glad bark. 1t was
as il nothing pleased him so much on
a frosty morning as tie prospect OF
hard days work.
If the call came IL summertime
when the Skipper was doing in the
cool shadow of a fake,-a platform
! of boughs for drying fsh,-hc
scramled to his feet, took his clog in
his mouth and ran, all a-Quiver TO:
| what might come, to where young
Billy waited. On Newfoundland the
law requires that all dogs shall be
! clogged as a precaution against thei;
! killing sheep and goats which run
wild. The clog is in. the form OF
/ billet Of wood, weighing at least
seven and half pounds, and tied to
the dogs neck.) If the clog We're
taken off,-as it was almost sure to
| be,-it 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 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. It was because he sat Cn
| the little cuddy in the bow, Is II
keeping lookout ahead. that he was
called the Skipper.
Sure, it's a clever dog, that" was
Billy's boast. "He ~weuh save life
that dog would"
This was proved beyond doubt when
little Isaiah Tommy Goodman toddled
over the wharfhead, where he lad been
playing with a squid. Isaiah Tommy
! was four years old, and would sure
ly have been drowned had not the Skip
per strolled down the wharf just at
! that moment.
The Skipper was obedicnt to- the
instinct of all Newfoundland dogs to
drag the sons Of men from the water.
He plunged l. and caught Isaiah Tom
| my by the collar Of his pinaforc. Still
i! following his instinct, he kept the
! child's head above water with power
full strokes Of his fore paws while he
towed him to shore. Then the outcry
| which Isaiah Tommy Immediately set
up brought his mother to complete
the rescue.
J For this deed the Skipper was petted
q day and half, and fed with fried
capl.n and salt pork, to his evident
qualification. No doubt he was per
suaded that he had acted worthiiy.
However that be, he continued in
merry moods, in atfectionate behavior,
in honesty-although the fish were
even then drying on the fakes, all ex-
posed. and he carried his clog like
hero.
Skipper" Billy Topsail would ejac-
ulate, ''you do be clever dog!'
One day in the fall Of the year, when
high winds spring suddenly from the
land, Billy TopSail 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
! it We're hardly discernible, for the mist
hung thick off the shore. -Four punts
| and skiff were bobbing hall mile
| farther out to sea, their crews fishing
with hook and line over the side.
Thicker weather threatened, and the
day was near spent.
"'Tis time to be off home, BY" said
Billy to the dog. "'Tis getting thick
in the sou'weSt."
The Skipper stretched himself and
wagged his tail. He had no word to
gay, but Billy, who like all fishermen
in remote places, had formed the habit
! OF talking to himself. supplied the
! answer.
"'Tis that, Billy, BY" said lie. "The
| punt's as much as one hand can man
age in fair wind. An it's q dead beat
to the harbor now"
Then Billy said word for himself.
"We'n put in for ballast. The punt's
too light for gale"
He sculled the punt to the little
cove by the Head, and there loaded her
with rocks. Her sails, mainsail and
tiny jib We're spread, and she was
headed for Grassy Island, Oh the first
leg of her beat into the wind. BY this
time the other two punts were under
way, and the sails of the skiff were
f1uttering as her crew prepared to
beat home for the night. The Never
Give Up was ahead OF the fees, and
held her lead in such fine fashion as
made Billy Topsails heart swell with
| pride
The wind had gained in force. It
was sweeping down from the hills in
! gusts. Now it fell to & breeze, and
| again it came swiftly with angry
strength. Nor could it's advance be
perceived, fol- the sea was cnoppy and
the bluffs shielded the inshore waters.
| We'll fetch the harbor on the next
! tack" Billy murtered to the Skipper,