THE AIREDALE TERRIER. 461 



2 10s. as soon as it was over. Crack outfought him, and killed him dead in 

 forty-eight minutes, and fought fully as quiet as the Bull Terrier. He was 

 better grit, for if the Bull Terrier could, he would have jumped the pit, I 

 think; but Crack pinned him and held him until he finished him. Either of the 

 other two, Ben or Smuggler, would fight just as keen. The Airedale fights much 

 faster than the Bull Terrier, and their thick hair seems to sicken the dogs they 

 fight with. They are the best watch-dogs I know of, and will stand by you in 

 a tight place. The dog Charlie, that I have now in Maine, sleeps in my bed- 

 room on a mat at the door, and no foot can enter the yard but he knows it. No 

 one can cross that threshold at night unless he sees fit to allow it. He is three 

 years old now, aud I think is a perfect type of the breed. He is surely game, 

 and will hunt rabbits and rats every minute he can get. I think if he was 

 properly trained that few dogs would beat him. He knows no one but his 

 master, and completely ignores everyone else. . . . 



You can teach the Airedale Terrrier anything. When I was in 

 Europe the last time, I saw one that I would have brought over if he 

 could have been bought; but it was of no use, for his owner said 50 would 

 not take him to America. I think he would weigh fully fifty-five to sixty 

 pounds, and knew about as much as you would think a dog could be taught. 

 His owner told me he would dive after a rat like an otter. He could make him 

 stop anywhere, and he said he thought he would stop there until dead, or 

 hunger compelled him to leave. He could send him home with a note and tell 

 him to bring a reply back, and he would do it; and if he said "No reply," dog 

 would take note and come right back; but if he said "Answer back," he 

 would bring it, or stop until they gave him a piece of paper. He would bring 

 that, or whatever they gave him that he could carry, and he would not lose it. 

 He, was a perfect pet with children, and a regular guardian over his three-year- 

 old little boy when sent out with the child. He reminded me so much of my 

 Old Ben, I would have paid well for him, but the owner said: "No, my dog 

 is one of my family, and will stay with us as long as he lives." 



Crack, the Airedale I alluded to before, I have seen point partridges and 

 pheasants as stiff as any old Pointer; then he would take a look around for 

 me, as much as to say, " I have them here for you;" and if one was wounded 

 and run on the ground, he would trail it and bring it to you as sure as it 

 dropped, and would not injure it. If I wounded a hare, or rabbit, he would 

 surely kill it, then bring it in; but a bird he would bring alive every time. 



He was brought up on the estate of Sir Busfield Ferrand, of Bingley 

 a thorough spoitsman, if ever one lived and Crack had to be sent off, as he 

 would not make friends with the other dogs; he was jealous. He was nearly 

 six years old when he came into my possession. I kept him some three years, 

 and my brother-in-law kept him until his death. He was said to be about four- 

 teen years old when he died, and up to about six months of his death was quite 

 lively. After that he iost the use of his hind quarters, partially, and his sight 

 failed him. Smuggler was also a grand dog, but not so game as Ben or 

 Crack. 



Now I will tell you a true story about another Airedale that my father 

 owned, as long ago as I can recollect anything. His name was Nelson. My 



