34 6 ALL ABOUT DOGS 



rival, he had swum across a flooded river to reach the 

 spot. 



Retrievers have the reputation, either rightly or 

 wrongly, of being quarrelsome with other dogs, 

 and so are more often kept as guards or for 

 sporting work, than as companions or pets, but the fol- 

 lowing are recorded of their sagacity. The inmates of 

 a house in High street in a well-known city were 

 aroused by the loud barking of a dog on the premises. 

 He was a large Black Retriever, Jack, much attached to 

 his master and family. The cause of alarm was soon 

 seen to be a fire raging furiously next door, the smoke 

 from which had aroused the dog. In a short time the 

 house was emptied, all the inmates escaping before it 

 caught fire, which appeared inevitable. Jack was often 

 used to be left in charge of the house when the family 

 were temporarily absent, and although not tied up, no 

 persuasion or even coaxing would induce him to desert 

 his post, so much so that it was four hours after he had 

 given the first alarm of fire, that he allowed one of the 

 family to persuade him to leave the building, which 

 was then almost " gutted." In a marvellous manner, 

 he had escaped injury from the fire, or falling walls, 

 rafters, etc., but the shock to the system from the in- 

 halation of smoke, etc., was so severe, that it caused 

 inflammation of the lungs, and he died the next day, 

 after suffering with coughing, etc., really a martyr to 

 what he looked upon as his duty, and though occasion- 

 ally taking a little water, refusing all food. 



