The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-04-11
THE STORY OF A HERO.
adelaide Chronicle

THE STORY OF A HERO.
In 1871 the steamship Swallow left the Cape of
Good Hope, bound for England. Among the passen
gers was child of two years and The lady
had also brought with her huge handsome New
foundland dog called Nero
The voyage had lasted about six days No land
to be seen, and the island of ST. Helena was the
nearest point. The day was a beautiful one with
the breeze blowing and the shining down bright
ly on the sparkling waters. large and gay COM
Pany of passengers assembled deck; merry
groups had clustered together; and then laugh
rang out sang a little snatch of song,
when suddenly the mirth of all was silenced by a
loud and piercing scream.
A nurse who had been holding a child in her arms
at the side of the lost her hold of the leap
ing, restless little one and it had fallen overheard
into the sea- The poor woman in her despair, would
have flung herself after her charge had not strong
held her back. But sooner than can be written
down something rushed quickly past her; there
leap over the vessels side, splash into the water
and then Neros black head appeared above the waves
holding the child in his mouth
The engines stopped as soon as possible but
by that time the dog far behind in the wake of
the vessel boat 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 something scarlet in his mouth. The
child had little jacket of scarlet cloth and it
cleaned like spark of fire the dark blue waves.
The mother of the child stood on the deck her
eyes srainng anXously after the boat and the black
spot upon the still holding firmly to the tiny
scarlet point The boat seemed fairly creep though
it sped over the waves it sped before.
Sometimes a billow higher than others hid for
moment dog and child. But the boat came nearer
and nearer, near enough at last to allow the sur
geon to reach and lift the child out of the dogs
mouth, then sailors stout pulled Nero into
the boat and the rowed swiftly back to the ship.
"Alive?" shouted every lip the boat within
hail of the steamer; and the answer came back
"Alive" "thank Cod" from every heart
Then the boat came to the ships side. A hundred
hands were stretched out to help the brave dog
board, and "Good Nero" Brave dog" Good fellow"
resounded every side But Nero ignored the
praises showered so profusey him. He trotted
sedately up to the childs mother and with wag of
his dripping tail looked up into her face with his
big faithful brown eyes, if he said, at is all
right; have brought her back SAFE
The mother dropped on her knees the deck and
taking the shaggy head in both her hands kissed his
wet face again and again, the tears pouring down
her face in streams Indeed, there not a dry
eye on board One Old sailor stood near with the
unconscious that ne was weeping.
Well, Nero for the rest of the voyage the pet
and hero of the ship, and he bore his honors with
quiet dignity. 1T curious, nowever to how,
from that time on, he made himself the sentinel and
body guard of the child. He always placed himself
at the side of the chair of any person in whose
she was, his eyes watching every movement she made.
Sometimes she would be laid on the deck, with only
Nero to watch her, and if inclined to creep out of
bounds, Nero's teeth, fastened firmly the skirt Of