THE BLOODHOUND DRUID. 319 



back again. To get the trough, and be master, was, 

 in this case, difficult, because, in the onset, I did not 

 desire to hurt him ; and as he had a knack, when in 

 a quarrel of this sort, to fly right at one's throat, it 

 was difficult to keep him out without it. I took the 

 trough, however, with a short truncheon in my hand, 

 as Avell as a little switch, with as much a manner of 

 careless authority as possible ; and the instant it 

 moved, he made a sort of spring, and then stood 

 across it, as one dog will do to another when, with 

 stiff legs, bristles up, and teeth shown, he threatens 

 battle. " Druid !" I cried, in a tone of astonishment, 

 " what now ?" and giving him a push out of the way 

 with the truncheon, ready in case of the worst, I 

 marched off with the trough, and returned and ca- 

 ressed him. The only time we came to blows was in 

 my little four-wheel shooting-carriage, where he was 

 coupled to the seat, by me. He would struggle to 

 get free, and make a noise : and when I gave him a 

 slight tap, he returned it by flying at me ; but I met 

 him with a hard blow from the fist, which for ever 

 after settled the dispute as to head man. I can do 

 anything with him now ; his temper is beautiful, and 

 as playful as a kitten's, and, though untractable to 

 strangers, with me he is docility itself. Druid is of 

 the largest size, and as stout to work, literally, as the 

 day is long. I will give the reader an account of 

 what I have seen him do. During the summer, when 

 he first came to me, I was lucky enough to kill, — for 

 the most part, — or miss, all the bucks so clean, that 

 a bloodhound was not needed ; but when the doe 

 slaughter commenced, then Druid's services came in 

 vogue. The does, prickets, sorels, and sors, all of 

 which were condemned, at last became so wary and 



