RUFF'S CLEVER RESCUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20112, 24 November 1928, Page 4 (Supplement)

RUFF'S CLEVER RESCUE.

In a nikan wharo built, on the fringe of a Now Zealand forest lived an early settlor and his son Jim, v?h6 was a bright lad oi eleven years. lie set traps to catch wild ducks and pigeons, (ivory morning lie went lound his traps, and his dog Uuff accompanied him. When he had been rouad his traps he took his rod and line and tried his skill at hooking trout from a brcok not far from the cabin, and every day ho returned homo with a good haul of fish 110 climbed trees and had t fine collodion of birds eggs. A pen was k&pt for any easily tamed birds ho caught. He had a plot of ground for himself and grow frcezias and vegetables. Urns lino morning Ins lather presented mm witli u brapd now rod and line. Jim was delighted and obtaining some bail ho set out for the brook with Ituff 110 went further than usual so he could catch larger fish. When he had caught enough fish he started homewards. Btfore he had gone far however some men stepped out from the undergrowth and asked Jim what he was doing there. .Jim told them that ho had been fishing. The men then said, that they would show him a good place to fish, but Jim replied, that he did not have timo and ag;ain started homewards.

Instantly the men caught hold of Jim and despite his struggles forced him to go with them. RufT had disappeared when the men had caught hold of ,Jim and his young master thought RufT had deserted him.

After they had walked about two miles into the bush Jim's captors came to a clearing in the bush. In the clearing were three small wooden hutsi and in one of these Jim, after being bound with ropes was locked. As they locked the door one man remarked " We've tied him up securely. We'll demand a fine ransom for him." Poor Jim was very downhearted and he lay awake long after the men had retired and he was just falling asleep when he heard a faint rustle on the thatched roof of the hut. The rustle continued and suddenly some thatch fell to the ground, and there outlined against the sky was Ruff. Quickly RufT jumped down from tho roof and began gnawin.g the cords that bound Jim's wrists.

After what seemed hours, had passed tho cords fell away It. took Jim but a few seconds to free himself and stretch his cramped limbs. Tho moonlight now streamed through the hole in the roof, and looking round for something to climb up on ho found some boxes piled up in one corner. With the aid of boxes Jim soon escaped from the hut- Silently they wended their way through title trees and soon with RufT leading had gone a good wav.

After a time Jim came nj>on a search party of Maoris led by his father. Soon Jim was tucked in bed none the worse for his adventure. Ho would not

go to bed, however, till Ruff's kennel was mado as comfortable as possible. He also gave Ruff a big bono to enaw. Some timo later the men who had kidnapped Jim wero captured by the police. Jim will never forget Ruff's clever rescue.

Noel Blyth, Manurewa, Original (12 years).