THE DOG. 



A nocturnal alarm. 



than the dog, with inconceivable rapidity, rushed 

 in, and was followed both by the master and 

 man. The candle had gone out in the bustle, 

 and the extreme darkness of the night prevented 

 them from seeing any object whatever. But a 

 hustling sort of noise was heard at the farther 

 end of the closet. His lordship then fired one 

 of his pistols at random, by way of alarm. A 

 piercing cry, ending in a loud groan, immedi- 

 ately came from the dog. ( Great God!' ex- 

 claimed his lordship, < I have surely destroyed 

 my defender/ He ran out for a light, and 

 snatched a candle from the innholder, who came 

 in apparent consternation, as to enquire into the 

 alarm of the family. Others of the house novr 

 entered the room; but, without paying attention 

 to their questions, his lordship ran towards the 

 closet to look for his dog. ' The door is open! 

 the door is open! ejaculated the publican; 

 then all is over!' As his lordship was re-enter- 

 ing the closet, he was met by his servant, who, 

 with every mark of almost speechless consterna- 

 tion in his voice and countenance, exclaimed, 

 * O, my lord ! my lord ! I have seen such shock- 

 ing sights !' and, without being able to finish his 

 sentence, he sunk on the floor. Before his mas- 

 ter could explore the cause of this, or succeed 

 in raising up his fallen domestic, the poor dog" 

 came limping from the closet, while a blood- 

 track marked his path. He gained, with great 

 difficulty, the place where his lordship stood 

 2 



