274 TWO BIG DOGS AND A LITTLE ONE 



and then, if necessary, they are ready to undertake the 

 post of night-watchman, or to do anything else that their 

 masters wish. 



One weakness, however, Newfoundland dogs have, 

 and that is a love of sheep's blood, which renders it 

 dangerous to keep them in sheep-breeding districts. 



A story is told of a man who brought a pure-bred 

 puppy from the north of the island of Newfoundland 

 to his own home, at a place called Harbour Grace. The 

 pup soon became a great favourite with everybody, and 

 especially with the children, and in his leisure moments, 

 when his work was done, was generally to be found in 

 their company. Even the cats rather liked him — he was 

 so big that most likely they didn't think he was a dog at 

 all — he never interfered with anj-thing they did, and 

 was always polite. But the moment he saw a sheep he 

 became another creature. He would chase it until he 

 ran it down, and would even drive it over the cliffs into 

 the sea, and jump in after it ! That is, he would jump 

 in if he did not consider the leap too dangerous, for 

 Newfoundland dogs are very cautious. If he did, he 

 would scramble round by an easier road, and reach his 

 prey some other way. 



But the puppy, young as he was, was so cunning, 

 that it was often a matter of difficulty to detect his crimes, 

 and so good and useful in other respects, that his master 

 had often not the heart to punish him for them. Besides, 

 as the man felt, it was the nature of the creature, and no 

 amount of punishment would ever alter that. The dog 

 must either go, or the man must, as far as he could, keep 

 the sheep out of his way, and when he could not, suffer 

 in silence ! Still, let him be as careful as he might, the sheep 

 and the dog could not always be kept separate, and then 

 something dreadful always happened. For some time 

 the master thought, however, that Fowler was really 

 cured of his bad habits, for he would pass three young 

 sheep that had been bought without taking the slightest 



