THE OFFICER'S DOG.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 220, 17 September 1887, Page 2

THE OFFICER'S DOG.

'MANY&toiies havobeen told of dogs seeking the assistance of neighbour dogs lo punish others for injuries they have received from them, which show that these animals posses some means of communicating their w Lilies to each other. Of these stones the following strikingly illustrates the fact: -In the neighbourhood of the city of St. Andiew's in Scotland, and about a mile distant from each other, lived a retired ollicer, a farmer, and a miller, each of whom possessed a powerful dog. These dogs, whenever they met, growled and snarled at each other, and sometimes fights took place. The officei 's dog, besides guarding his master's residence, went every forenoon to the village, a distance of half a mile, to purchase bread, carrying with him a to^el in which the requisite money was tied up. Each timo on hi 3 return he was immediately served with his dinner, after which he mounted guard over the house for the rest of the day. In the village were a number of idle cvis — builies, and, of course, cowards —who banded themselves together to attack peacefullydisposed dogs. One day, on theoutskhts of the vil'age, they assaulted the officer's dog on his way to the baker's shop. Tn the struggle, the towel was torn from his mouth and the money was scattered on the road. The curs then retreated. The dog picked up the money, executed his message, and returned home ; but instead of eating his dinner, which as usual was at once placed before him, he, after laying down his burden, trotted off straight across the valley to the farmer's house. The labour ers, on seeing him, thought he had come to quarrel and fight with their master's mastiff, and were much surprised at seeing the two old enemies meet not only in a most friendly manner, but trot off, after a short consultation together, side by side, along the road that led to the mill. If tho men at the farm were greatly astonished, the miller was more so when he saw his bull-dog receive the four-footed visitors as if they were his most intimate companions. The three held a brief council, and then set off in the direction of the officer's residence, followed at a distance by the miller, where, instead of taking the road which led to the village, they entered it by a circuitous route, and put to the tooth every cur they came across, They then separated, and each dog returned to i's master's abode, to be once more, strange to say, as bad friends as formerly.