The St. Bernard. 39 



mountain. At the village the family of the man had 

 become alarmed at his absence, and ascended the 

 mountain in the hope of assisting him home. Two 

 terrific avalanches at that time fell, and, rolling 

 down from where the snows had accumulated for 

 years, overwhelmed, first the courier, his guides, 

 and the dogs, and continuing their course, swept 

 the man's family to destruction and it is said Barry 

 was one of the dogs that met so untimely an end. 



Though the monks have had their dogs for many 

 years how many has not yet been traced, but 

 their monastery was founded in 962 as British 

 subjects St. Bernards are but a modern institution. 

 Perhaps they were originally at the Hospice for pro- 

 tection of person and property, as the following 

 extract from an old English newspaper will testify: 



" In March, 1786, the convent of Sion, on the 

 borders of Switzerland, was attacked by twenty-four 

 villains who demanded the treasure thereof. The 

 monks replied that their rents were ill-paid, and 

 that at present they had very little stock, but they 

 would show them where it was. Accordingly the 

 robbers were shown upstairs where it was said to be. 

 when, opening the door where the bloodhounds (?) 

 were and giving them the word, they fell instantly 

 upon the villains and tore some of them to pieces. 

 The others, attempting to fly, were pursued and 



