In the Netherlands, they use dogs of a very large and strong breed as they would horses. They are harnessed like horses, and chiefly employed in drawing little carts filled with fish, vegetables, and other produce. Before the year 1795, such dogs were also employed in smuggling; which was the easier, as they are exceedingly docile.
The dogs were trained to go back and forth between two places on the frontiers, without any person to attend them. Being well loaded with little parcels of goods, lace, and the like, they set out at midnight, and went only when it was perfectly dark. An excellent, quick-scented dog always went some paces before the others, stretched out his nose toward all quarters, and when he scented custom house officers, turned back, which was the signal for immediate flight.
Concealed behind bushes, or in ditches, the dogs waited till all was safe, then continued their journey, and at last reached, beyond the frontier, the dwelling-house of the receiver of the goods, who was in the secret. But here, also, the leading dog only at first showed himself. On a certain whistle, which was a signal that all was right, they all hastened up. They were then unloaded, taken to a nearby stable, where there was a good layer of hay and plenty of good food. There they rested until midnight, and they then returned in the same manner as they had come, back over the frontiers.
LXXXVII
PORUS SAVED BY HIS ELEPHANT
King Porus, in a battle with Alexander the Great, being severely wounded, fell from the back of his elephant. The Macedonian soldiers, supposing him dead, pushed forward, in order to rob him of his rich clothing and accoutrements; but the faithful elephant, standing over the body of its master, boldly drove back every one who dared to come near, and while the enemy stood at bay, took the bleeding Porus up with his trunk, and placed him again on his back.
The troops of Porus came by this time to his relief, and the king was saved; but the elephant died of the wounds which it had so bravely received in the heroic defense of its master.
