LETTER IV. 47 



and shoot them at once, or we shall have mischief clone." 

 Such advice did not suit my humour just then, and I 

 confess I was guilty of a sort of fool-hardiness common 

 in our youthful days, and which prompts us to do acts 

 which we should repent in cooler moments. I wished, 

 moreover, to try experiments, as I feared the whole pack 

 might go mad, and they were very valuable. "Well," 

 I said, "I have a strong impression that these hounds, 

 knowing me well, will not bite me if they can help it ; at 

 any rate I will try the experiment. I therefore, put on 

 two pairs of gloves, took a short thick stick under my arm, 

 and, notwithstanding all the doctor and my man could 

 say to the contrary, opened the door, leaving them out- 

 side, and walked boldly in. Their eyes glared fiercely 

 as they advanced to meet me, but I called them by name, 

 went up, and began talking to them in my usual tones, 

 and patted them on the head. They appeared to know 

 me quite well, wagged their tails, and then lay down 

 sulkily in the corner. Satisfied so far that I could now 

 give them medicine, without much fear of their biting 

 me, I left the den and retired with the doctor to consult 

 what to prescribe. The result of our experiments, and 

 other remarks, I must leave to conclude in another letter. 



