The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1909-07-20
SAVING HIS DOG
7 Ohm GORRlE had long determined

IL to emigrate to New Zealand. but
had remained in his native county OF
Fife as long as his mother was alive.
When she was laid to rest in Cults
kirkyard, he and his dog sailed for the
strong New England of the southern
pole" His brothers had preceded him
some years before and each had taken
with him a collie from the old home
stead, black and white dogs, rather
small in size, but Wiser than most.
Since their departure, for fear of i'm
porting hydrophobia, regulations had
been put in force NOT allowing home
dogs to land in Australian colonies un-
less they underwent a quarantine Of
deadly length and vigor, which few sur
vived.
John Gorrie, who had seen promis-
ing scions of this piebald dog family 60
with his brothers, rejected the warning
that his Gala" would not be allowed
to land. He paid his dogs passage,
stubbornly determined his slim. four
footed friend would also herd the
flocks on the virgin lawns of Brighter
Britain. Gala was gentle-eyed. sup
pie creature, as clever a shspherdess as
ever drove the silly sheep to market.
She had sorry time of it during the
passage, for the cramped space and
steamboat laws ill-suited one whose
1.-THE limbs could carry her untiringly.
John Gorrie, standing at the bows of
his good ship. burly, hard-featured,
shrewd man, wore glum look on his
stern face as he wondered how his good
collie was to be landed. The very idea
of killing his valuable and constant
companion made the heart of this big
man very sore. He treasured that
meek, wistful-faced black and white
dog as much as he treasured the pock-
etbook which contained all his worldly
wealth.
He met with nothing but Jobs COM
forters on board. The captain one day
on inspection paused to say to him
briefly: II wonder a canny Scot like
you was befooled into paying collie's
passage" The carpenter offered to
take Gala back to England. but John
replied: nd rather pit her doun my
self than gle her ava" He knew Gala S
heart would break if he left her. He
still had a mulishly stubborn belief
hat somehow he could land his dog. He
had written to Sandy Gorrie the mail
before he sailed, telling him Gala and
he were coming. Sandy, he knew
would meet him at the Bluff (where the
steamer first touched) and he hoped
their two Scotch heads would have
wits enough in them to devise some
plan to evade the law and save his
white-breasted Gala before he was
forced to disembark at Dunedin. The
thought of "piting doun." as he called
killing, the fond dog which gazed on
him with its loving eyes raised to his
puzzled face, who tried with pathetic
playfulness to coax away his sadness,
cost that stoical, Manufactured man
many sorrowful day, many wakeful
night. 1t was cold September spring
forenoon when they arrived at the
Bluff, and the new land had a grim air
about it which John said truly
minded him of hame." The steamer
had to wait day there.
"You must declare poor little Gala"
said the purser to Gorrie. II don't
think she can even get chance of be-
ing quarantined, for they have an
extra panic on about home dogs lust
now"
AYE" answered Gorrie, with the
sulky brevity Of his native Fife.
Good Gala-nice old lass" said the
purser, stroking her intelligent, long
head. 1T is pity you brought her"
Aye" again answered Gorrie, look
ing down into her plaintive, beseeching
eyes. for with her ready instinct she
guessed mischief was brewing.
Sandy Gorrie met his brother, and as
they stood talking together the New
Zealand farmer praised Gala, for she
was endeared to him by memories of
home.
"She is real, like fathers 'pyat.' 1t is
an awfe peety man about her, and
mines deed last NIGHT, mind you, she
was nigh IL years." said Sandy.
"Whaur did she deep" said John. ca.
gerly.
AT my sister-in-law's over there
Mag was getting that auld, Mrs. Chris
tie she kept her when l was in the
north, and last Sabbath she Just la,
doun and OWNED and dee's."
"Whanr is the body?"
Buried by yon cabbage tree" sale
Sandy, pointing to lone, shock head
ed tree which stood as sentinel over ;
rocky bay, and behind it rose smoke
telling of homestead in the hollow.
Man." said John, earnestly, a ligh,
OF hope cleaning in his deep-set ewes
"howk her up and I'll save my bonni,
Gala. We dinna sail afore the nish
and I'll dae wi your Magpie as tn
captain did wi the sodgers. She'll b.
the example, no my Gala. went to /;
reading at Ladybank last Martimas i
! would be, and the meenister, no ours
but anither, he telt ABBOTT three sodper
: that were late frae camp, when tn
duke of Wellington was fechtin' i,
, Spain. Weel, the duke. he said the,
were to hang for il. but so mony pui
, men were killed the canta;n he wa