292 Modern Dogs. 



family who lived near some gunpowder works, with 

 whom I used to leave a salmon rod to use as 

 occasion required. Douglas liked the people there, 

 he liked the children. In the winter season, when 

 we did not go fishing, Douglas paid weekly visits 

 on his own account, walking quietly along the foot- 

 paths through the fields, never leaving the " trod " 

 though rabbits might be on both sides of him. He 

 was petted by the youngsters, wagging his great 

 tail the while, and in an hour was off on his return, 

 taking the same route as he had on the outward 

 journey. Again, if I left him at home when I had 

 gone out angling, in nine cases out of ten he 

 would meet me on the road back, two miles or so 

 out of the town, especially at night time. Poor 

 dog ! he had a sad failing, he loved killing a cat, 

 but knew well enough he ought not to do so. Let 

 " pussy " spit at him, her life was soon over. 

 He liked to go out to afternoon tea with the 

 children and their nurse who were our neighbours. 

 On one occasion a large and ferocious brown 

 retriever flew at one of the youngsters, Douglas was 

 at the dog's throat in an instant, and it was generally 

 believed he saved the child from being worried to 

 death, as the brute was, a short time afterwards, 

 destroyed by magisterial orders for almost killing a 

 little girl. The same afternoon Douglas was in 



