The Faithful Animal Warns the Captain Just in Time to Avoid a Collision.
    Capt. Granlain, of a big lake liner, boasts of a first class seaman that never leaves the vessel or demands money for his service. This peculiar tar is known as “Bert.” He has no surname, as far as his fellow sailors are able to ascertain. Beyond an occasional report to the “old man,” as the captain is called, he rarely opens his mouth, says the Chicago Chronicle.
    “Bert” will have the everlasting gratitude of the stockholders of the transportation corporation for being instrumental in avoiding a collision recently. The steamer was proceeding slowly along Lake Huron in a dense fog with every eye directed ahead in search of a strange light. The deep-mouthed whistle was bellowing out a warning every moment and an answering toot was occasionly heard on the starboard side.
    Suddenly “Bert” was full of activity. He had bee looking through the gloom as earnestly as the others with his paws on the bulwarks. He bounded to the captain and barked with all his might. Capt. Granlain rushed to the engineer signal and ordered “reverse.” The helm was thrown to port just in time to avoid a towering passenger boat whose prow loomed up suddenly in the fog. If the freighter had proceeded along her course both vessels would probably have gone to the bottom.
    “That dog is the greatest sailor on the lakes,” said the captain. “He always keeps my watch with me and cannot be induced to leave the deck forward or the bridge where I may chance to be. His eyes are far superier in power of vision than human opties. Next summer when I get time I’m going to teach him the compass, and then I may be able to utilize him at the wheel. I think he would make an excellent pilot.”
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