Page 84 - Jack's victory and other stories about dogs

than ceremony, But within the proper limits
lie never tired of helping* the bathers to enjoy

themselves, frolicking with them, carrying them

on his back, towing them through the water,

letting them dive off his shoulders, playing
leap-frog, and making sport in a hundred ways

of his own.

Sailing or rowing were also favourite pastimes

with Jet, and he was a capital companion in the

boats. He could neither haul nor reef, but be
learned to steer, after a fashion, and would hold

a boat as steady on her course a? an old pilot.

Somebody had to shift the helm for him, of
course, if that was to be done, but he liked to sit

upon the stem sheets, with the tiller between his

paws, flattering himself that he was the skipper

and we others were the crew. Tlisi favourite

boat was the surf-skiff, a crescent-shaped little
craft, built of rived cedar, about an eighth of an

5ncli thick. She was light as a feather, had a

bearing of about a hand's-breadth on the water,

and was as skittish as a young colt. Any one

unaccustomed to her tricks and manners would