460 Ifcfngs of tbe 1Rofc, IRffle, anfc (Bun 



" Smoker," Berkeley further tells us, was the hand- 

 somest as well as one of the largest dogs I ever saw, 

 being able, when I was six feet high, with ease to put 

 his fore paws on my shoulders. He was white, with 

 a coat like short silk, a spot on his back, about the size 

 of a dessert plate, and one on his head of a deep brindle 

 or mahogany colour. Anecdotes of the sporting qualities 

 and sagacity of this splendid dog have already been 

 told in former works, but I here give an incident in 

 his early life which has been recently narrated to me 

 by my good friend Mr. R. Bright, of Baker Street, 

 Orsett, in Essex. 



At this time Smoker was a puppy only ten months 

 old, and then the property of Mr. Bailey, of Britwell 

 near Burnham in Middlesex, from whom I purchased 

 him. Mr. Bailey had also in his possession a tame 

 male red deer, or stag, which I believe he originally 

 received as a fawn from the Royal Park at Windsor. 



Tame stags, and even tame bucks, are never safe 

 when they grow to maturity, even if their antlers 

 are kept sawn off, as they are still able to use their 

 heads, and particularly their fore as well as their hind 

 feet in assaults on the human race. On this occasion 

 Mr. Bright was walking out, accompanied by the 

 beautiful puppy, and happened to come to the spot 

 where the stag was dangerously running at Lady 

 Young, at that time living in the vicinity. 



At my friend's bidding, Smoker, mere puppy though 

 he was, instantly seized the stag by the flank, and 

 while he kept his larger and more powerful antagonist 

 at bay, Mr. Bright assisted Lady Young to escape from 



