FROM THE "SPECTATOR." 223 



a Newfoundland or large retriever was as 

 good as a play. Teens, with his tail curled 

 like the spring of an ancient watch, his 

 broken-haired back stiffened with indignation, 

 would stand and give the pass-word all dogs 

 seem to know, and be overhauled and 

 examined as he walked round the giant like 

 an English gunboat by a Spanish fifth-rate ; 

 but when once the enemy turned his back, 

 Teens exploded like a cracker, running 

 under the big dog's nose, and often springing 

 at his lip. His gigantic, but generous foe 

 (or friend) always fled, or walked away, 

 followed by a torrent of abusive barks, 

 which, from their peculiar intonation, I took 

 for dog-slang, and Teens returning with an 

 impudent smile on his countenance, wiped 

 his feet on the pavement as a sign of 

 triumph. I have seen him do this a hundred 

 times, and never saw a big dog attempt to 

 punish his impudence. Jeems, a black-and- 

 tan of smaller weight, who seemed to walk 

 upon springs, and who on work-a-days was 

 called Jim, and James on Sundays, which 

 day he perfectly well knew, was more like 



