SAGACITY OF A DOG.

Patea Mail, Volume 1, Issue 13, 26 May 1875, Page 3

SAGACITY OF A DOG.

An incident showing the sagacity of a dog, occurred on the recent trip of Mr G. Stevenson and a party of gentlemen in the steamer Avon to the wreck of the Pdencathra, at King’s Island. The left Melbourne last Wednesday, to visit the wreck, with the view of seeing if the Bloncathra could bo raised, but owing to adverse 'weather they wore obliged on the following morning to anchor under New Year’s Island. They had not come to an anchor for more than three-quarters of an hour, when a cry was raised that a smd was swimming towards the ship. The party on board sought for a weapon with which to kill the seal, and found a long pole to despatch it with. It was, however, then ascertained by means of a glass that the animal was no seal at all, hut a dog of the'lrish retriever hived. The dotr came right on to the vessel, and was welcomed

on board, when it was discovered that it bad been dreadfully torn and bitten on the hindquarters. The wounds were sewn up and attended to as well as could bo under the circumstances, and it was conjectured at the time that they had bci n caused by sharks, Shortly afterwards a few of the party visited the island, and there they arrived at what seemed the real solution of the means by which the animal had been injured. They were greeted by the. howling and furious harking of five npprarently wild dogs of the kangaroo breed, which would no doubt have been dangerous had there not been so many persons present, who then felt persuaded that the dog had been worried by its wild brethren, and had, at the risk of its life, swum off to the vessel as soon as it anchored near. All on board were strongly impressed with the great instinct of the dog, which in their opinion had come to the conclusion that it would find safety and kindness from the hands of man, and deliverance from the enemies of its own kind, if it could reach the ship. It was considered that tl;e dog must hare swum at least a mite or more against a very strong current after it was first seen. The animal became a great favourite on board, and was rattled for before the voyage home was completed. —“ Australasian.”