244 THE AMEKICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



breath from their pursuite until such tyme as they bee apprehended and taken 

 which committed the f acte. 



These Houndes, when they are to follow such fellowes as we have before 

 rehersed, use not that liberty to raunge at will which they have otherwise when 

 they are in game (except upon necessary occasion whereon dependeth an urgent 

 and effectual perswasion when such purloyners make speedy way in flight), but 

 beyng restrained and drawn backe from running at random with the leasse, 

 the end whereof the owner holding in his hand is led, guyded, and directed with 

 such swiftnesse and slownesse (whether he go on foote or whether he ryde on 

 horseback) as he himselfe in haste woulde wishe for the more easie apprehen- 

 sion of these venturous varlots. In the borders of England and Scotland (the 

 often and accustomed stealing of cattell so procuring), these kinde of dogges 

 are very much used, and they are taught and trained up first of all to hunt 

 cattell, as well of the smaller as of the greater growth, and after wardes (that 

 qualitie relinquished and left) they are learned to pursue such pestilent persons 

 as plant theyre pleasure in such practises of purloyning as we have already 

 declared. 



Two or three centuries ago the Bloodhound was much used in England 

 and Scotland, not only to track felons, but to pursue political offenders. They 

 were kept at one time in great numbers on the border of Scotland, and not 

 only set upon the trail of moss-troopers, but upon fugitive royalty. Bruce was 

 repeatedly tracked by these dogs, and on one occasion only escaped death from 

 their jaws by wading a considerable distance up a brook, and thus baffling their 

 scent. A sure way of stopping a dog was to spill blood, and thus destroy its 

 discriminating powers. A captive was sometimes sacrificed on such occasions. 

 A story of William Wallace is related, as follows: 



The hero's little band had been joined by an ally, a dark, savage, suspi- 

 cious character. After a sharp skirmish at Black Erncside, Wallace was forced 

 to retreat with only a section of his followers. The English pursued with bor- 

 der Bloodhounds. In the retreat the ally tired, or appeared to do so, and would 

 go no farther. Wallace having in vain argued with him, in hasty anger struck 

 off his head, and continued his retreat. The English came up, but the Hounds 

 refused to leave the dead body, and the fugitive escaped. 



The Bloodhound has, for many centuries, been a favorite 

 in England. He came with the conquerors, and was their 

 faithful follower then as he is their companion now, and 

 some of the old English lords point with pride to their 

 favorite Hounds, and say: " This same strain has been with 

 our family since the Conquest." Who can doubt the 

 ancient ancestry of the Bloodhound when we note his 

 sedate and stately bearing, his thoughtful, dignified man- 

 ner. These bespeak at once his ancient lineage and his 

 long-extended pedigree, which is written on his wrinkled 

 face and in his deep-set eye. 



