SAGACIOUS DOGS lit 



and then will come back to look for any other vagrants 

 he can find. This the dog does every day, with or with- 

 out me. He so frightens the tramps that they generally 

 make the best of their way out of the town, and dispense 

 with his company.' 



One story leads to another, especially on the subject 

 of the sagacity of our faithful four-footed companions. 

 Dogs have been known to find their way home again 

 from great distances, although they may not have known 

 a foot of the road. I can readily believe it, for I have 

 had experience of their ability in this way. Forty years 

 ago a little sagacious animal of my own, of no particular 

 breed, stole away and accompanied my horse Fugitive 

 from the Anchor Inn, Kenford or, as the Cornishmen 

 call it, ' The Pickaxe and Snake ' to Plymouth, a dis- 

 tance of about fifty miles. To prevent the dog's being 

 lost or taken, we fastened him up in a stable after feeding 

 him for the night. The next morning the ostler in- 

 cautiously opened the door. The dog, taking advantage 

 of this, escaped, and, not seeing any of us about, retraced 

 his steps to Kenford, where he arrived footsore the same 

 evening, about six o'clock. To have accomplished this 

 he must have passed through many towns, villages, 

 and hamlets, without mistaking his way, or allowing 

 himself to be turned aside for a moment from his 

 course by the interference of other dogs or any kind of 

 obstacle. 



At the moment of writing I am reminded that, at the 

 Porchester station, between Cosham and Fareham, on 

 the South- Western Eailway, there is a dog to be seen 

 that is quite a character in its way. It is a sort of 

 Clumber spaniel, lemon and white. It gives notice of 

 each stopping train, generally before, but always on the 

 moment of its appearing in sight. On its approach he 



