A heroic act

Every Saturday afternoon I take my dog for a jog in the park. The last time I did that however, it turned out to be anything but usual.

As I was jogging, I saw a maid, with a baby on her lap, sitting at the edge of a large pond. She seemed to be enjoying the sight of ducks swimming across the pond. As her attention was focused on the ducks, she allowed the baby to slip away from her and get into the water. The powerful currents in the pond pulled the baby to the center.

When the maid shouted for help, I rushed to the pond to see what I could do. There was hardly anyone around. I knew the pond was deep and I did not know how to swim. There was no time to be lost. I quickly instructed my dog to go for the baby.

My obedient dog immediately swung into action. Jumping into the pond, he swam towards the baby. Very soon, my pet was back with the baby. The maid was lost for words as she grabbed the baby and secured it in her arms. At that point, the mother, who had gone to a shop to buy milk for her baby, returned and was informed of what had happened.

Both the mother and the maid thanked me profusely. But I knew it was my dog that deserved the praise. My pet had done me proud.

I returned home with my dog, but I guessed the maid was in for a scolding from the mother for being careless.

Essay Structure

The essay is about an incident that occurred in a park. It involves a heroic act performed by a dog. The writer shows, step by step, what happened in the incident.

The essay starts with the writer going out for his usual jog on a Saturday afternoon. It then goes on to say what he saw near the pond.

Paragraph 3 describes the writer rushing to the pond and instructing his dog to save the baby.

Paragraph 4 relates how the dog responded to the situation and rescued the baby.

The writer then received thanks for the rescue.

The final paragraph shows what the writer was thinking as he made his way home.

Q & A

1. How did the maid let the baby slip away?

The maid let the baby slip away as her attention was focused on the ducks swimming across the pond.


2. What do you understand by the remark "there was no time to be lost" (paragraph 3)?


The baby was being dragged to the middle of the pond and quick action was needed to save it.


3. Why was the maid lost for words on receiving the baby?


The maid was lost for words probably because she was too happy or relieved to think of anything to say then.


4. Why does the writer say "my pet had done me proud"?


The writer says "my pet had done me proud" because his brave dog had saved the life of a baby. He was proud to be the owner of such a clever, courageous dog.