112 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



A canine guardian. 







children out from home in so dangerous a situ- 

 ation. 



Early in the year 1804, a medical gentleman, 

 who was returning from the theatre, seeing a 

 crowd about St. Martin's watch-house, ventured 

 in, to see what was passing there: he found that 

 some gentlemen, who had been sacrificing to 

 Bacchus, had got into a riot, and recognised 

 among them the face of an old friend, whom he 

 had not seen for some years: the laiter requested 

 his card, which the medical gentleman gave him 

 from his pocket-book. This pocket-book con- 

 tained bank-notes to the amount of five hundred 

 pounds, which he had been so incautious as to 

 carry with him to the theatre. On leaving the 

 watch-house, two men followed him. He had 

 scarcely left the steps, before he felt something 

 touch his hand, and, on looking round, disco- 

 vered a large Newfoundland dog, which immedi- 

 ately leaped on him, and continued to follow 

 him. On reaching Grosvenor-square, the two 

 men attacked him, and seizing him by the collar, 

 demanded his pocket-book. The dog instantly 

 flew at them both, one of whom he severely bit 

 by the leg, and they both made their escape. 

 The faithful guardian then atteno!ed the gentle- 

 man to his house in Park-Lane, and waited at 

 the door till the servant opened it. The gentle- 

 jnan endeavoured to coax the animal in, but 

 without avail; he refused all their entreaties to 

 enter, and they were compelled to shut the door* 



