THE LATEST "PIG AND DOG" STORY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2100, 21 September 1885, Page 2

THE LATEST "PIG AND DOG" STORY.

A correspondent forwards ua the follow ing:—"It is now some ten years ago, and I was at tot time stationed in the Taupo district, boingamemberofthe A.O. Force. There were about 700 men, all told, in camp; but, holding a commission, I occupied a small whare within easy bugle call. Among my personal belongings was a dog, of whom I was very fond, he having been given to me many years before by a friend. It was the only animal of the canine breed in oamp, and at times poor old "Jack" (the name 1 had given him) Beemedvery low-spirited, and sadly in want of a companion, One morning I missed hun, and as he did not make his appearance for several days, I began to think I had lost him altogether. But no, one evening, about dusk, my noble friend stalked into my hut, looking very peninent. He', however, appeared to be in very high spirits about something, and after licking my hand and face several times, trotted out, looking back to see if I were following him. Thinking he perhaps had caught a rabbit and brought it home (not an unusual thing for him to do) I rose, and went to the door. Jack was, there, sure enough but whatvas that he had with him ? Not a rabbit, surely 11 took a step nearer, and could just makej out some little black outline, and a pair of bright glistening eyes, but what it represented,

the gathering darkness prevented me from discerning. Stooping, I made a sudden grab at it, but it evaded mo, giving forth at the same time a sharp little grunt—it was a pig! Yes, itwas undoubtedlmpprker, and a very impudent one, too ;f<flistead of "making tracks," as I fully (Expected it would do, it turned and quietly followed my dog into the hut, When J entered, piggie was "fossicking" amongthe remains of my late meal, while Master Jack lay by the fire-place, looking rather-well, ' 'doggish." 1 called him to my side, and pointed to his strange with a mute enquiry as to whot he meant , by bringing, home such quarrie.' Jack, however, wagged his tail, and ran eagerly towards his new chum, seeming veiy anxious I should make, friends, • I Mierefore .put down a bowl of milkaa offering, .This : reassured him; ana-the nutricious.fluid wsis speedily polished off, the two, after a series of'joyful evolutions, picking out a choice corner in the hut and "bunking in" together.- Several days passed, and as the dog and pig' still pre* served the :-bpnd : of friendship/ - and no enquiries r were ; made concerning the ownership of the latter, I concluded I mi^ht'consider it my rightful property. The two were always together, and soon "Tregbert's pig" become the talk of the camp. It was after "Bruno" (the pig's' norn de jjhtrne) had been in my possession some weeks that ! first noticed the most remarkable feature of this strange friendship. . I went down one morning for a bathe in the stream on the banks of which the camp was situated, and hadiujtiieen in the water many seconds bfflte I observed a most peculiar proceeding on the part of both dog and pig, who had followed me down, -\ Evidently sniffing breakfast from the tents on the other side (for the camp was situated on both banks), Jack waded calmly into the- water, followed by Bruno. When €ho pig mounted his back, and was conveyejiji this position across the stream. 1 astonished that I had an extra dip under the water to make sure I was not dreaming. . But no, there were the two safely across, and quietly trudging up the opposite bank towards the canteen. I quickly dressed after my bath, and made an adjournment for breakfast. Jack and the pig did not show up till just before the mid-day mess, and from the watery appearance of both it was dvident the snme mode of crossing the river that I had witnessed in the morning had been used. I related the incident to my brother officers that evening, and got laughed at, they considering the thing absurd.: I however made abet with two of them thatthere would before longbe arepetition of this new mode of river conveyance, and invited them to accompany me on my next bathing excursion, Accordingly, next morning four of us took towptand wended our way to the bathing place, my dog and his Companion following. Without the least hesitation, and before we were in the water ourselves, Jack entered the stream, and Bruno was cont veyed across ala "pig-a-back," Iw® my bet, and my friends were obliged % confess it was the strangest proceeding they had ever witnessed. After this, the manipulations of the two were almost a daily occurence, they remaining on the opposite side the whole of the morning,and showing up again punctually at the dinner hour. When the camp broke up I was obliged to part with the pig, as I was going to another part of the coast. Jaok was terribly cut up at the loss of his friend, and gradnally pmed away. I afterwards learned Bruno had suffered the same melancholy fate. Such is true friendship, even among dumb animals, though, perhaps, a stranger acquaintanceship could not be imagined. lean vouch fo the above facts, and I doubt nottha many who were in the Taupo camp at the period I mention will also have a distinct remembrance of this strange Budget, '