160 British War Dogs 



on the part of dogs, whereby their reasoning powers are 

 brought into play in the working out of their ideas, is well 

 typified in the well-known story of the mastiff, belonging 

 to Sir Harry Lee, of Ditchly, in Oxfordshire. This dog 

 had been used as a guard for the house and yard, but had 

 never been treated in any way as a companion by Sir 

 Harry, or any other member of the family. The dog would, 

 however, have seen him going about the place as owner 

 and master. One night he was retiring to bed, assisted by 

 his valet, an Italian, and for some unexplained reason, the 

 dog presented itself at the door of the bedroom, where it 

 had never been before. It was ordered downstairs, but 

 returned again, and commenced to scratch so determinedly 

 at the door, that, to save further trouble, it was allowed 

 to enter. It retired under the bed, and remained there 

 quietly. During the night, stealthy footsteps entered 

 the room. Sir Harry started from sleep, and the dog leapt 

 from under the bed, and seized the intruder. When a light 

 was brought, it was discovered that the mastiff was holding 

 the Italian valet, who was armed, and who confessed that 

 his intention had been to attack and rob his master. A full- 

 length picture is still preserved in the family of Sir Harry 

 Lee, with the mastiff by his side, and the words attached : 

 " More faithful than favoured." To cultivate this habit 

 of thinking things out for itself, and of noticing events, 

 and putting two and two together, rather than of waiting 

 for the word of direction, is the object of all those who train 

 military dogs. In the chapters on the work the dogs have 

 actually done in the field, it will be seen how wonderfully 

 the dogs used their reasoning powers. 



A sense of justice is to be found, too, in a high degree 

 in some dogs, and is easily affronted. From man it feels 

 such affronts severely, but also from its own comrades. 



