152 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Prevention of robbery, fitc. 



slipped on a petticoat, and placed a brace of pis- 

 tols (which were always in a closet adjoining), at 

 her side, and boldly went down stairs. She had 

 not proceeded far, when looking around, she 

 perceived the coachman coming down another 

 pair of stairs, quite dressed. With great pre- 

 sence of mind she pointed one of the pistols, and 

 threatened him with instant dealh, unless he di- 

 rectly returned to bed. She then proceeded to 

 the back parlour, when, on hearing a distant 

 murmuring kind of noise, she advanced to the 

 window, and fired in the direction whence the 

 noise came. All was then immediately silent, 

 and nothing further transpired that night. The 

 next morning she traced blood through her gar- 

 den to a considerable distance: and not thinking 

 it prudent to keep so large a sum any longer in 

 the house, ordered her carriage, and drove to 

 town with the utmost expedition ; and after de- 

 positing her property, went to Sir John Fielding, 

 and related the whole of the circumstance to 

 him, who, after applauding her singular cou- 

 rage, advised her to part with the coachman di- 

 rectly, and he would endeavour to investigate 

 the matter minutely, and punish the offending 

 parties according to their deserts. Thus was 

 robbery, and murder, most likely, prevented by 

 the instinct of this faithful little animal. 



In October, 1803, during the deluge with 

 which the island of Madeira was visited, a re- 

 markable circumstance happened near St. John'* 



