THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. 



25 



where he could occasionally either run or swim ; and in this position lie placed himself witli all the 

 eagerness anil attention so strongly observable in a pointer dog, who -/* his gaim-. They wen: t'.,r 

 some time at a loss to comprehend his scheme, but the event amply justified his prudence, as the fish, 

 when they feel the net, always endeavour to make directly out to sea. Accordingly, one of the 

 salmon escaping from the net, rushed down the stream with great velocity, toward the ford, where the 

 dog stood to receive him at an advantage. A very diverting chase now commenced, in which, from the 

 shallowness of the water, the whole track of the fish could be discerned, with all its rapid turnings 

 and windings. After a smart pursuit, the dog found himself left considerably behind, in consequence 

 of the water deepening, by which he had been reduced to the necessity of swimming. 



Instead, however, of following this game any longer, the dog readily gave it over, and ran with 

 all his speed directly down the river, till he was sure of being again sea-ward of the salmon, where he 

 took post as before in his pointer's attitude. Here the fish a second time met him, and a fre*h pursuit 

 ensued, in which, after various attempts, the salmon at last made its way out to the sea, notwithstanding 



THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG 



all the ingenious and vigorous exertions of its pursuer. Though the dog did not succeed this time, the 

 fishermen stated it was no unusual thing for him to run down his game; and that he was of very 

 great advantage to them, by turning the salmon towards the net. 



Of a Newfoundland dog, purchased by his father, and of a smaller one bred in the house, the 

 Rev. S. Drew used to relate the following story : The dairy was \mder a room which was used 

 occasionally as a barn and for apples, into which the fowls sometimes found their way, and, in 

 scratching among the chaff, scattered the dust into the pans of milk below, to the great annoyance of 

 the rev. gentleman's mother-in-law. In this a favourite cock of hers was the chief transgressor. One 

 day, in harvest, she went into the dairy, followed by the little dog; and, finding dust again thrown 

 into the rnilk-pans, exclaimed, " I wish that cock was dead !" 



Not long after, she being with others of the family in the harvest-field, they observed the little 

 dog dragging along the cock, just killed, which, with an air of triumph, he laid at the feet of Mrs. 

 Drew. Highly exasperated at the literal fulfilment of her hastily-uttered wish, she snatched a stick 

 from the hedgf, and attempted to give the dog a beating. The luckless animal seeing the reception 

 lie was likely to meet with, where he expected to receive marks of approbation, left the bird, and ran 

 off; she, brandishing her stick, and saving, in a loud and angry tone, " I'll pay thee for this, by-and-byi ." 



VOL. II. 4 



