472 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



for hunting was strong to the end. The Hounds having 

 started a fox, which ran near his window, while he lay on 

 his death -bed, he insisted on getting out of bed to enjoy 

 the fun, as he called it. That Davidson was the originator 

 of this now celebrated breed of dogs is not generally 

 believed, but they have ever since borne his nickname. 

 It is believed that they were in the hands of border gypsies 

 and farmers many years before. Doctor Brown, writing of 

 one of his dogs, says: "He came of the Piper Allan breed, 

 who lived some two hundred years ago, in Coquet Water." 



Allan was a piper, like Homer, traveling from place to 

 place, and famous for his dogs, music, and songs. The Earl 

 of Northumberland offered the piper a small farm for his 

 dog. Allan remarked: " Na, na, mee lord; keep yer ferum. 

 What wud a piper do wi' a fernm?" 



It is said by Mr. Robert White that the father of Jamie 

 Allan (Piper Allan) was named William, and was born in 

 1704. He was a player on the bagpipes, and repaired pots 

 and pans and made spoons and baskets. He was an excel- 

 lent angler, and among his other pursuits he excelled in 

 the hunting of otters, and kept eight or ten Terriers for this 

 sport. Peachem was William Allan's favorite, and such 

 confidence had he in the animal, that when hunting he would 

 at tirhes remark: 



"When my Peachem gi'es mouth, I durst always sell 

 the otter's skin." 



Charlie was also an excellent dog. William Allan had 

 once been employed by Lord Ravensworth to kill otters on 

 the estate, which he soon accomplished. His lordship 

 wishing to buy Charlie, .at the piper's own price, Allan 

 turned round haughtily, and exclaimed: 



"By the wuns, this hale estate canna buy Charlie." 



William Allan died in 1779, aged seventy-five years. 

 His son Jamie was born in 1734. 



Mr. J. Davidson, an old fancier of the breed, published 

 a letter in the Field (London) of December 7, 1778, which 

 sheds more light on the question as to how James Davidson, 

 the original Dandie Dinmont, came into possession of his 



