DOGS, AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS. 373 
er fast disappearing ; a low, black hull as she plows 
through the wild water, leaves behind it a troubled 
wake. The dense, black smoke overshadows the dark- 
ness of approaching night. On the dock there stands, 
half crouched, as if debating whether or not to plunge 
into the water, a spaniel —one of the handsomest of its 
kind. Every appearance denotes his utter despair. 
The winds blow wildly through his pendulous ears, and 
twines around his legs the silken hair of his tail ; around 
his neck he has a collar, fastened into this a rope, whose 
ragged end trails on the dock,—the ends show fine 
strands, indicating that he has gnawed it off. So he has- 
Chained to his kennel he witnessed the departure of 
his master; he tried in vain to follow him; he sought 
to break the ties that bound him, but could not. Fierce- 
ly he attacks the rope with his sharp teeth, and is free. 
He rushes in the direction of his departing master, and 
arrives at the dock, too late, as the vessel is far from 
shore. What he then does is depicted in these beauti- 
ful lines : 
‘He has strained the rope which bound him, and at last has broken 
free 
Too late ! for there the steamer bears his master out to sea. 
He is but a dog, and yet he has the yearnings of his kind, 
And his heart is fairly breaking, that he is left behind. 
With an effort he might reach him, if he struggles with a will ; 
The master has forgotten, but the dog remembers still, 
Plunge, the way is long and weary, and the distance grows more 
wide, 
But he has one hope to guide him, just to reach his master’s side. 
Struggling, ever struggling onward, though the water beats him 
back, 
Struggling while his heart is failing, in the steamer’s silver track; _ 
Struggling with a last vain effort ; struggling till his strength is 
gone 5 oe 
So the blue waves elose over him, and the twilight hastens on.”’ 
