KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



81 



ANIMAL INSTINCT. 

 THE DOG AND THE STOEK. 



When the effects entirely are the same, 

 Instinct and Reason differ but in name. 



Raise Reason over Instinct as you can, — 

 The latter, God directs ; the former, Man. 



HE ABSENCE OF MY NAME FROM 

 YOUR "PLEASANT PAGES" — 



it does seem an age since I 

 appeared there ! — has not, I 

 hope, banished me, my dear 

 Sir, altogether from your re- 

 membrance. That will never 

 do. You must not either, for 

 one single instant, imagine that I have be- 

 come indifferent to your success ; or that I 

 have failed to be pleased with the monthly 

 record of the many pleasing novelties which 

 grace the columns of Our Own. Far, — 

 very far from it ; and as one of the " Happy 

 Family" to whom you make such frequent, — 

 such affectionate reference, let me once more 

 resume my proper place in the family circle. 

 I send you to-day some very interesting 

 extracts, which I have selected from the 

 " Memoirs of the Baronne d'Oberkisch." 

 They have reference to the instinctive saga- 

 city of the Dog, and the remarkable affection 

 of the Stork. Of the Dog, — my favorite, I 

 have already been eloquent in your columns ; 

 and the present trait will be another addition 

 to his already countless good qualities. I 

 feel sure you will readily give it a place. 



The second extract is a touching incident 

 in the family history of a Stork, — the record 

 of whose devotion and affection cannot fail 

 to please the readers of Our Own. 



The Baillie de Suffren, says the Baronne, 

 gave us some very interesting details con- 

 nected with his services in India. I made 

 notes of several of them in my journal. On 

 one occasion, he was very anxious to learn 

 how the troops of the enemy were disposed 

 about the country, as he had reason to sus- 

 pect that some were lying in ambush, — pre- 

 paring to make an unexpected attack ; and 

 although it was by no means the duty of a 

 commander to risk his life by penetrating 

 almost alone into an enemy's camp, yet, re- 

 gardless of danger, he disguised himself and 

 went to reconnoitre. His companions were 

 only an officer, in whom he could confide, — 

 and a faithful dog 



This dog was of a peculiar species, — a 

 breed carefully preserved in the palace of 

 the grand masters at Malta. Tradition says, 

 they are descended from the two dogs with 

 which Diendrune de Gizon killed the cele- 

 brated serpent. However that may be, it 

 is certain that these dogs possess more 

 than ordinary intelligence,— and the one here 

 spoken of (belonging to Madame de Suffren, 

 and to whom his master was very much at- 



tached) was by no means unworthy of his 

 race. On the present occasion, he went on 

 before his master : exploring their route, 

 smelling all round, and by his mute signals 

 deciding his owner's path. These Indians 

 are the most wily and watchful people im- 

 aginable. They are ever on the alert, and 

 very seldom taken by surprise. But now 

 their vigilance seemed to sleep ; for the 

 General went all round their camp without 

 meeting any adventure, or making the slight- 

 est discovery. 



It was nearly day as he retraced his steps ; 

 almost disappointed at having escaped so 

 well ; when, at last, the prospect looked more 

 promising. Suddenly, the dog turned back 

 as if afraid, or stunned ; and seemed to wish 

 to lead his master towards a rock at a little 

 distance. The General followed the indica- 

 tions of the animal ; and to his no small sur- 

 prise and horror, saw, standing at the en- 

 trance of a kind of grotto, an immense 

 tiger, whose eyes flamed with rage. His 

 first impulse was to draw back, and prepare 

 to defend himself; but the strange proceed- 

 ings of the dog arrested his attention, and he 

 involuntarily waited to see what the animal 

 was about to do. 



For a few moments, the dog stood still, as 

 if collecting his strength ; and then darting 

 towards the savage beast, a mortal combat 

 ensued. M. de Suffren was surprised at 

 this ; for it was by no means common with 

 dogs of this species. So he determined to 

 wait the issue of the fight. 



The movements or the tiger were no less 

 extraordinary ; for he defended himself 

 against his enemy without using his claws, 

 or mouth. A moment sufficed to reveal the 

 mystery. The dog, seizing the tiger by the 

 throat, the skin came away ; and disclosed 

 (inside) an Indian ! The savage had as- 

 sumed this disguise in order that he might 

 watch with the greater security. Now that 

 he was discovered, he flung away the tiger's 

 hide ; and drawing a poignard, attacked the 

 dog with great fury. Oh, how the General 

 trembled for his faithful friend ! But though 

 he had his firelock cocked, yet could he not 

 take aim at the Indian ; so firmly bound to- 

 gether were the savage and the dog ! At 

 last, the poor animal was overpowered, and 

 fell upon the ground ; but just as the Indian 

 was preparing to transfix him with his poig- 

 nard, a ball from the General's rifle stretched 

 the conqueror lifeless on the earth. 



M. de Suffren raised his dog, bleeding, — 

 almost lifeless as he was ; and bore him in 

 his arms safely to the boat. He was nur- 

 tured with the greatest care, and soon reco- 

 vered all his strength. For many years after, 

 he was the faithful companion of his master ; 

 and bore upon his shoulder the marks of 

 the wounds received in his defence," 



Vol. V.— 6. 



