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Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 563, 26 August 1869, Page 3

An Italian journal relates a curious instance of canine intelligence which occurred during some late operations against the brigands in the province, of Naples. A detachment of cavarly having arrived about daybreak at a small wood in which they had reason to believe that a number of bandits were concealed, observed ' a little dog, which had been evidently placed on the watch, rise up and bark furiously, at the same time running about in all directions. The soldiers, perceiving that the animal was giving the alarm, hastened forward, but only found in the interior of the wood traces of the recent departure of the party of which they were in search. The officer in command, vexed at missing an important capture, drew his pistol and fired at the four-footed sentinel, which with a howl, rolled over on its back and lay motionless. The squadron continued its march, but a quarter of an hour later, one of the men, happening to turn round, observed the same dog they had just before left for dead on the ground dodging about behind the trees in their rear, as if to watch them. The animal was captured and found not to have a hair touched by the shot 6red at it ; it had evidently feigned death in order to be able to continue its functions of vedette. The prisoner's life was not only preserved, but the captive was admitted into the regiment, and will be taught to render service in discovering the haunts of its former masters.