The Emperor to the Rescue.

Otago Witness, Issue 1949, 2 July 1891, Page 41

The Emperor to the Rescue.

It was a dark night, and down a retired street in Paris a man rode alona on horseback. Suddenly the horse stopped as if frightened. Then a man rose from the pavement, in the middle of the street, and jumped to one side with a cry. The lider was angry, and exclai mer], " Are you di unk, man, that you lie about in the middle of a dark street to get yourself run over ? "

" fou might, better lend a poor fellow a hand than scold in that wav," exclaimed the other. •' I had 300fr in gold in this bag, carrying it to pay a bill for my master, and the bag has broken and it is all lost over the

street. If you have some matches they will do me more good than your curses." " It's no easy task to find lost money on a night like this," said the rider, dismounting. " I have no matches, but perhaps I can help you. Have you any of the pieces left ? " "Only one," replied the unfortunate fellow, with a sob.

" Give it to me," said the other.

The poor man hesitated ; but the stranger repeated the words in a tone of authority, and the last coin was handed to him.

The stranger whistled, and a great Danish mastiff stood beside him. He held the coin to the dog's nose, and pointing to the rough pavement said, " Find them."

The dog sniffed the gold piece and began the search.

One, two, three ; he began bringing in the coins and dropping them into his master's band, while the poor servant stood by in silent wonder.

Thirteen times he returned with a 20fr piece. Then, after a long search, he came back empty, with a grunt that seemed to say, " There are no more."

" We are yet lacking one piece," said the stranger. "Are you sure there were just 300fr ? "

"Sure as sure can be, sir," the servant replied.

" Then look in the bag again. There must be one left there."

The man looked, and sure enough, found the last gold-piece still there.

" Oh, sir 1 " he exclaimed, as the stranger sprang into his saddle, "you are my deliverer. Tell me your name, that my master may know who has done him such a service."

" I have done nothing," said the stranger. " Tell your master that the one who helped you was a very good and intelligent dog by the name of Joie."

It was some years afterwards, when France had seen troubled times and the royal family was no more, that the master was telling the incident to a party of friends, one of whom had been employed in the palace.

" Joie 1 Joie " he exclaimed. " There neve? was but one dog of that name, and there never was a more remarkable and faithful dog than he. He always accompanied his master when he went in disguise about the city." "Who was his master ? " they all asked. The reply was brief:, "The Emperor Napoleon."