192 THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. 



driven on the beach of Lydd, in Kent : the surf 

 was rolling furiously ; eight poor fellows were crying 

 loudly for he]p, but not a boat could be got off to 

 their assistance. At length a gentleman came on 

 the beach, accompanied by his Newfoundland dog. 

 He directed the attention of the animal to the vessel, 

 and put a short stick to his mouth. The intelligent 

 and courageous fellow at once understood his meaning, 

 and sprang into the sea, and fought his way through 

 the waves. He could not, however, get close enough 

 to the vessel to deliver that with which he was 

 charged; but the crew joyfully made fast a rope to 

 another piece of wood, and threw it towards him. 

 He saw the w r hole business in an instant ; he dropped 

 his own piece, and immediately seized that which had 

 been cast to him, and then, with a degree of strength 

 and determination almost incredible, he dragged it 

 through the surf, and delivered it to his master. A 

 line of communication was thus formed, and every 

 man on board was rescued from a watery grave." 



In truth, the instances of courage and benevo- 

 lence recorded of this species, are so numerous, that 

 they would fill a volume. We may speak of the 

 cleverness of the French poodle, who has been made 

 an excellent actor ; as in the case of the company of 

 poodles brought to London, about fifty years ago, by 

 a Frenchman, that had been educated to play their 

 parts in pantomimic sieges; counterfeit admirably 

 fine ladies and gentlemen ; and dance minuets, bow, 

 and look demure and frisky, according to book. 



