106 ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS. 



Even surpassing these histories of reason and fidelity, 

 is that which Mr. Bell relates, in nearly the following 

 terms : ' My friend was travelling on the Continent, and 

 his faithful dog was his companion. One day, before 

 lie left his lodgings in the morning, with the expectation 

 of being absent till the evening, he took out his purse 

 in his room, for the purpose of ascertaining whether he 

 had taken sufficient money for the day's occupation, and 

 then went his way, leaving the dog behind. Having 

 dined at a coffee-house, he took out his purse, and 

 missing a louis d'or, searched for it diligently, but to 

 no purpose. Returning home late in the evening, his 

 servant let him in with a face of sorrow, and told him 

 that the poor dog was very ill, as she had not eaten 

 anything all day ; and what appeared very strange, she 

 would not suffer him to take her food away from before 

 her, but had been lying with her nose close to the vessel 

 without attempting to touch it. On my friend entering 

 the room, she instantly jumped upon him, then laid a 

 louis d'or at his feet, and immediately began to devour 

 her food with great voracity. The truth was now appa- 

 rent : my friend had dropped the money in the morning 

 when leaving the room, and the faithful creature finding 

 it, had held it in her mouth until his return enabled 

 her to restore it to his own hands ; even refusing to eat 

 for a whole day, lest it should be out of her custody.' 



All dogs trained for the service may become Retrievers 

 or finders of game, which they bring to then* master 

 without injury. Spaniels, however, are generally pre- 

 ferred. Mr. St. John had one called Rover, a black 

 water-spaniel, who noticed everything that was spoken, 

 and acted accordingly. If at breakfast time his master 

 said, ' Rover must stop at home to-day, I cannot take 



