Dog Who Rescues a Woman from the Dead

Overview

A dog follows a woman who refuses to leave her returning sweetheart and unknowingly enters a settlement of dead people. When her companion disappears and the ghosts surround her, the animal can see what she cannot clearly perceive. It barks at them and drives them back. It then changes into a person and offers to rescue her on a condition: after they return, she must not call it a dog, even if it steals the rice and fish she prepares for a lover. She accepts, and it resumes dog form to keep the ghosts at bay with its barking.

The protector leads her toward home and carries her on its back across a large body of water. It repeats that she must give it a human-style name, explaining that it will remain visibly canine because the townspeople would otherwise ask where her accompanying dog had gone. Her family treats it well after hearing of the rescue. Other people may call it a dog without consequence; the prohibition applies specifically to her. It repeatedly consumes meals she prepares for a new sweetheart, and she initially cooks replacements without complaint. At last, angry over another stolen meal, she calls it a dog. It looks at her, and she falls dead, fulfilling the condition imposed during the rescue.

Origins & earliest records

Florence M. Cronise collected tales from children and adult employees of the Rotifunk mission in Sierra Leone. The 1903 preface credits Henry W. Ward with much of the arrangement and narrative setting; its named speakers are not assumed to be independently documented field informants.

Records & interpretation

Complete selected tale directly read, printed pp. 294-297. Preface and introduction separately inspected for collection and editorial mediation.

In the literature

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   Cunnie Rabbit, Mr. Spider and the Other Beef

   Florence M. Cronise, collector; Henry W. Ward, arranger · 1903

   A Ghost Story - the rescuing dog; pp. 294-297.

2. 02

   Cunnie Rabbit, Mr. Spider and the Other Beef — A Ghost Story — rescuing dog

   Florence M. Cronise, collector; Henry W. Ward, arranger · 1903

   London, Swan Sonnenschein & Co.; New York, E. P. Dutton, 1903, visually verified title page. Selected Project Gutenberg 48828 transcription retains printed page markers and exact tale anchors. Preface pp. v–vi credits Cronise with collection and Ward with arrangement/setting; introduction pp. 1–4 describes Rotifunk mission children and adult employees as sources. Frame speakers are not independently verified individual informants.

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

Located primary passages

Specific passages supporting details in this entry, grouped by their published witness.

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. Collected primary narrative with editorial settingA Ghost Story - the rescuing dogResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.