CHAPTER XX 

 ANECDOTES ABOUT DOGS (Continued) 



ANOTHER instance of sagacity occurred at Bristol, 

 when a nursemaid wheeling a perambulator with a 

 baby in it, down Spring Hill, which those of my read- 

 ers who know the locality, will remember, is one of the 

 steepest in that hilly part of the country, was seized 

 with a fit, and loosened her hold. In an instant the lit- 

 tle vehicle, with its living occupant, was darting down 

 towards a flight of steps in the hill and apparently to 

 certain destruction. Just before its arrival at the steps, 

 the leathern apron of the perambulator was seized 

 by a Retriever dog, who happened to witness the occur- 

 rence, and saw the danger of it, the vehicle was stopped 

 and the child saved from an untimely death. 



The natural love of fun and inclination for being 

 taught almost anything of the Irish Water Spaniel is 

 well known, so that I think the following account by 

 Mr. Lindhoe, R. E., at one time a keen fancier and ex- 

 hibitor, of his Rake and Blaeney, may be interesting to 

 my readers. 



He writes : " Rake is a very clever dog and 

 can be taught almost any trick. He is very tender- 

 mouthed and can dive and bring up an egg, unbroken, 

 from a depth of twelve feet or more. It is very amus- 



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