MODESTY BECOMES THE BRAVE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15863, 7 July 1919, Page 9

MODESTY BECOMES THE BRAVE.

(American "Life.”) A large dog was walking along a country road. He could scarcely be called a mongrel, in the derisive sense, yet it was certain that many breeds met in bim. At a turn of the road he saw three smaller dogs ahead of him. One, a v-eiy small dog, was consideiahlv in the lead The ether two were of middle size. All three wore pacing sedately &ong, attending to their own business." Suddenly a terge bulldog parted the hushes at the side of the road and sprang upon the smallest dog. Seeing tin’s the two dogs in the rear hastened to the rescue, but so sudden and fierce was the onslaught that before they could reach the seme of battle, the bulldog had shaken the little dog into insensibility, and flung him, battered and bleeding, to the side of the road. The middle-sized dog grappled with the bulldog and fur began to fly and bleed to flow. Sometimes the two dogs got the letter of it, but often they were the worse sufferers.

The large neutral dog settled back on his haunches and watched the • conflict His attitude was one of watchful waiting. But there seemed to be s- me disagreement among bis members. First one paw and then another would start forward, but would be curtly cidered back by the head. One specially large, strong claw on the right forefoot seemed determined to join the fray, bnt was sternly repressed by the head.

After a long struggle the middle-sized dog showed signs of weakness, but they still fought bravely on, though covered with mud from blood-soaked dust. The little dog, too, had got back into the fight, and was’ giving a good account of himself. Once, in a lull of the,battle, tie bulldog turned and cast a baleful glance back at the neutral, dog. His look plainly said: “After I’ve finished these, I won’t stand any nonsense from you!” Then the neutral dog sprang forward, and. joined the battle against the bulldog. Once in the battle he fought well. Seeing this, the nearly exhausted friends took fresh courage and vigour, and the four soon chased the aggressor, torn and bleeding, hack into the brush. But the erstwhile neutral dog swelled up with great pride and trotted down the road barking out: “I did it! I won the war!’’