THE ALPINE DOG. 143 



said to the owner of the premises, " You have got 

 Sir Thomas Lander's big dog." The man denied it. 

 " But I know you have," continued the letter-car- 

 rier. " I can swear that I heard the bark of Sir 

 Thomas's big dog ; for there is no other dog in or 

 about all Edinburgh that has such a bark." The 

 man then admitted that he had a large dog, which 

 he had bought for a trifle from a couple of coal- 

 carters ; and at last, with great reluctance, he gave 

 up the dog to the letter-carrier, who brought him 

 home here. But though Bass's bark is so terrific, he 

 is the best natured and most playful dog I ever saw ; 

 so much so, indeed, that the small King Charles's 

 spaniel lapdog, Raith, whom Mr. Stewart has also 

 introduced into the same picture, used to tyrannize 

 over him for many months after he came here from 

 abroad. I have seen the little creature run furi- 

 ously at the great animal when gnawing a bone, who 

 instantly turned himself submissively over on his 

 back, with all his legs in the air, whilst Raith, 

 seizing the bone, would make the most absurd and 

 unavailing attempts to bestride the enormous head 

 of his subdued companion, with the most ludicrous 

 affectation of the terrible growling that might be- 

 speak the loftiest description of dog indignation. 

 Bass has for some time ceased to tolerate this 

 tyranny, having, upon one occasion, given the little 

 fellow an admonitory shake ; but he is at all times 

 in perfect good humour with him, though Raith, 

 from jealousy, is always glad to avail himself of an 

 opportunity of flying at him. When a dog attacks 



