THE LIFE AND DEATH OF PINCHEB 319 



celebrated feats, and the Pass of Glencoe witnessed what 

 he doubtless deemed the most tragic event in his crowded 

 life. Here he, who never feared the face of living dog, 

 fled from the dead, as he (erroneously) believed. He was 

 not inaccessible to the terror of superstition, nor could he 

 encounter the foe whom he had already seen stretched life- 

 less at his feet. But this adventure needs some preface 

 and explanation. • 



The Coe, after threading the Pass where the massacre 

 ■took place under tremendous and beetling crags, reaches 

 the sea at Invercoe, above which it is spanned by a bridge. 

 At Invercoe dwelt a family akin to that owned by Pincher. 

 They possessed a Scotch terrier named Jack, between 

 whom and Pincher reigned an inveterate feud. To keep 

 these enemies apart was the great, object of all friends of 

 peace. Pincher's family lived on*»*he left, Jack's on the 

 right of the river. One day both families were taking tea 

 in the open air, the table being spread just under the 

 window of a cottage in the village. Pincher was left in 

 the cottage, Jack on the other side of the stream. As the 

 guests partook of the innocent feast, a kind of hairy 

 hurricane sped from above, the urn and teapot were over- 

 set, a heavy body landed on the table, and, when the 

 affrighted tea-party recovered the use" of their senses, 

 Pincher and Jack were found engaged in a death struggle. 

 Jack, unobserved, had come up the road, Pincher, behold- 

 ing or scenting him from an upper window, had leaped to 

 the fray ! 



"What could be done was done. Both hounds were 

 lifted from the earth by their tails. Pepper was applied 

 to their nostrils, water was poured over them. But 

 Pincher did not leave his hold till Jack lay motionless at 

 his feet. Then Pincher let himself be dragged off', while 

 medical attendance was called in for Jack, the doctor's 

 house being hard by. The skill and perseverance of that 

 excellent physician were at last rewarded. Jack breathed, 

 he stirred, and, unknown to the relentless Pincher, was 



