IN THE ROYAL NAVY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 510, 19 October 1912, Page 7

IN THE ROYAL NAVY.

■—+ Sailors, like horsemen, have a tendency to become bow-legged, says an ex-navy officer. . "I once saw an old Admiral whose long sea-service had given his legsi a decided outward curvature have a singular adventure with a bull-dog that 'was a pet aboard ship. The sailors had taken pains with the dog's education, and taught him a number of tricks. One of his most frequent exploits was to jump through the aperture made by a man holding one of his feet against the other knee. It was a trick < that the dog seemed to. take great delight in performing. One day the Admiral came on * board the ship on a visit of inspection, and while standing on deck conversing with some of the officers, was spied by the dog. The Admiral's bow-legs seemed to strike the dog as affording the best chance for a running leap he had seen in many a| day. Suddenly he) made a rush, and leapt like a whirlwind through the tempting gap. In astonishment at what had passed i beneatt him, the Admiral turned quickly around to see what was the cause, the dog took this action'as <a signal for an encore,' 1 and jumped again barking furiously all the time, as e means of showing how much he enjoyed the sport. The bewildered face of the Admiral was too muct

for the gravity of the spectators, and, (forgetting the respect due to rank, they broke into a hearty roar, in which, after he understood the situation, they were joined by th( Admiral himself."