int of the
picture that they are both dripping wet, and so we know the child
must have fallen into the water and was about to drown when the dog
swam out and brought her safely to the shore.

We can only guess how the accident occurred. It could not have been a
shipwreck, for then there would be others for the good old dog to
save; besides, although the sky is partly cloudy, there is no evidence
of a storm, and we see sailboats in the distance.

The child evidently had not been wading out into the water and gone
beyond her depth, because she has on her shoes and stockings and is
dressed for a day in the warm sunshine, perhaps out on the beach.
Probably she had been playing on the wharf or on the rocky shore and
had reached out too far or had slipped on a rock.

The dog, hearing her cry, must have immediately plunged into the water
after her. Then holding the child firmly by her dress, he had battled
against the waves until he reached a sandy beach from which he had
dragged himself to this place.

Although we cannot see the parents, nurse, or playmates, no doubt they
are running toward the child and the dog. The dog seems to be watching
their approach as he lies there exhausted, guarding the precious
burden lying across his paws. His great tongue hangs out and we can
almost hear him pant as he gasps for breath after his fierce struggle
against the waves.

The child is still unconscious, her large shade hat held by a rubber
band under her chin; her arm lies limp and lifeless, yet we are sure
the great dog has been in time, and she will soon open her eyes. The
sea gulls circle about the two as if they were glad of the rescue, and
were trying to show the parents where to find the child.

These powerful Newfoundland dogs are strong swimmers. At the first cry
of alarm they usually plunge unbidden into the water, and rarely fail to
accomplish a rescue. In France they are kept on the banks of the Seine
as important members of the life-saving crew. Here they are carefully
trained for this purpose by their masters, who throw a stuffed figure of
a man into the water and teach the dogs to bring it back to shore. They
are taught always to hold the head of the figure above the water. They
seem to understand perfectly just what is wanted of them and why.

A story is told, and it is claimed to be true, of a woman who, while
washing clothes on the bank of a river, placed her baby in the clothes
basket to keep it safe. In some wa