^ HISTORY. 101 



" Whereunto I can none otherwise answere, but- that, b,e /whp 

 will throw a stone at every dog which barketh, hatli-'nee4 af ^a 

 great satchel or pocket." GASCOJGNE. 



escape but by swimming a considerable distance. 

 as best he could. The Newfoundland, being an excellent swimmer, very speedily 

 gained the shore, on which he stood shaking himself, but at the same time watching 

 the motions of his former antagonist, which, being a bad swimmer, was struggling 

 exhausted in the water,' and just about to sink. In dashed the Newfoundland, 

 took the other gently by the collar, kept his head above water, and brought him 

 safely on shore. There was a peculiar kind of recognition between the two animals, 

 they had often fought before, but never did so afterwards ; and upon tue New- 

 foundland dog being accidentally killed by a stone-waggon on the railway 

 passing over him, the mastiff languished and lamented for a considerable 

 time. 



A CUR PERFORMS THE PART OF A DETECTIVE. 



310. Mr. Youatt tells the following anecdote, vouching for its truth : A young man, 

 an acquaintance of the coachman, was walking, as he had often done, in Lord Fife's 

 stables at Banff. Taking an opportunity, when the servants were not regarding 

 him, he put a bridle into his pocket. A highland cur that was generally about the 

 stable saw him, and immediately began to bark ; and, when he got to the stable 

 door, would not let him pass, but bit him by the leg, in order to prevent him. As 

 the servants had never seen the dog act thus before, and the same young man had 

 been often with them, they could not imagine what had been the reason of the dog's 

 conduct. However, when they saw the end of a valuable bridle peeping out of the 

 young man's pocket, they were able to account for it ; and, on his giving it up, the 

 dog left the stable-door, where he had stood, and allowed him to pass. 



DOG PHILANTHROPISTS. 



31 1. Upon Mount St. Bernard, and near one of the most dangerous mountain passes, 

 is a convent, in which is preserved a breed of large dogs, trained to search tor the 

 benighted and fro/en wanderer. Every night, and particularly when the wind 

 blows tempestuously, some of these dogs are sent out. They traverse every path 

 about the mountains, and their scent is so exquisite that they can discover the 

 traveller, although he may lie many feet deep in the snow. Having found him , 

 they set to work and endeavour to scrape away the snow, uttering a deep bark that 

 reverberates from rock to rock, and tells those who are watching in the convent that 

 some poor wretch is in peril. Generally, a little flask of spirits is tied round the 

 neck of the animal; by drinking which the benighted traveller may recruit his 

 strength until more effectual rescue arrives. The monks hasten in the direction of 

 the sound, and often succeed in rekindling the vital spark before it is quite 

 extinguished. Very many travellers have been thus rescued from death by these 

 benevolent men and their intelligent and interesting quadruped servants. 



One of these Bernardine dogs, named Barry, had a medal tied round his neck as 

 a badge of honourable distinction, for he had saved the lives of forty persons. He 

 at length died nobly in his vocation. A Piedmontese courier arrived at St. Bernard 

 on a very stormy day, labouring to make his way to the little village of St. Pierre, 

 in the valley beneath the mountain, where his wife and children lived. It was in 

 vain that the monks attempted to check his resolution to reach his family. 1 hey at 



