116 BKITANXY AND THE CHASE. 



a long rope, and were now too much afraid to go near 

 liim to shorten it. He was a fine dog of the shepherd 

 kind, and seemed quite aware of the gravity of his case. 

 In the intervals of attack he looked seriously and quietly 

 about him, as much as to say, What have 1 done to merit 

 all this cruelty ? And when the attack recommenced he 

 defended himself gallantly, making head against his two 

 opponents so effectually as to keep both at bay. His na- 

 tural efforts were, of course, taken as conclusive proofs of 

 madness by the excited people, who looked upon the thing 

 at last as a show, and became bloodthirsty. I was hor- 

 ribly disgusted with the aifair and the place of execution, 

 too — on the steps of the town-hall ! At last one of tho 

 crowd, seeing that nothing would be done with the sticks, 

 went and fetched a double-barrelled gun, and watching a 

 moment when the poor brute, having driven off" his 

 butchers, was enabled to repose, gave him both barrels in 

 the head, which covered the town-hall steps with blood, and 

 the scene terminated, to my exceeding relief. It was long 

 debated in the Assembly (when it existed) whether or not 

 to have a dog-tax ; but they were not able to carry it, 

 as it would be an extremely unpopular measure. It is 

 part of a Frenchman's birthright to keep a dog who is a 

 paragon, and to grumble at his neighbours for doing the 

 same, and they have been so long accustomed to this, that 

 they would not relinquish it ; but it would be an excellent 

 measure, and would abate a great nuisance at the same 

 time that it increased the stock of game in the country and 

 added to the revenue. Frenchmen, too, think a great deal 

 of " the soitj''^ and hate direct taxation, of which they have 



