76 REMINISCENCES OF A SPORTSMAN. 



master; and that, O'Toole would say, is a proof of my 

 royal blood." 



It appears almost certain that the following in- 

 teresting anecdote, which is related in Mr. Carr's 

 " Stranger in Ireland," must have reference to the 

 Irish wolf-dog. Mr. Carr says, " whilst on his journey 

 to Ireland, he wandered to a little church which owed 

 its elevation to the following circumstance. Llewelyn 

 the Grreat, who resided near the base of Snowdon, had 

 a beautiful dog named Grelert, which had been pre- 

 sented to him by King John in 1205. One day in 

 consequence of the faithful animal, which at night 

 always sentineled his master's bed, not making his 

 appearance in the chase, Llewelyn returned home very 

 angry, and met the dog covered with blood at the door 

 of the chamber of his child. Upon entering, he found 

 the bed overturned, and the coverlet stained with gore. 

 He called to his boy, but received no answer, so he 

 rashly concluded that he had been killed by Gelert, 

 and in his anguish thrust his sword through the poor 

 animal's body. The Hon. Eobert Spencer has beau- 

 tifully told the remainder of the story. 



His siippliant looks as prone lie fell, 



No pity could impart, 

 Exit still his Gelert' s dying yell 



Pressed heavy on his heart. 



Arous'd by Gelert's dying yell. 

 Some slumb'rer waken'd nigh. 



What words the parent's joy coiild tell 

 To hear his infant's cry ! 



