144 THE ALPINE DOG. 



Bass in the street or road, he runs away rather than 

 quarrel ; but when compelled to fight, by any per- 

 severance in the attacking party, he turns upon him, 

 throws his enemy down in a moment, and then, 

 without biting him, he lays his whole immense 

 bulk down upon him till he nearly smothers him. 

 But this extreme softness arises from his youth ; for 

 if he were once fairly engaged, I have no doubt 

 that he would be most formidable either to quadru- 

 ped or biped who should venture to attack him. To 

 give you an idea of his strength, I may tell you an 

 anecdote which happened a good many months ago. 

 He took a particular fancy for one of the postmen 

 who deliver letters here, though he was not the 

 man whom I have already had occasion to mention. 

 It was the duty of the postman I now allude to, be- 

 sides delivering letters, to carry a letter-bag from 

 one receiving-house to another, and this bag he 

 used to give to Bass to carry. Bass always followed 

 that man through all the villas in this neighbour- 

 hood where he had deliveries to make ; and he in- 

 variably parted with him opposite to the gate of the 

 Convent of St. Margaret's, and returned home. 

 When our gate Avas shut here, to prevent his fol- 

 lowing the postman, the dog always leaped a high 

 wall to get after him. One day, when the postman 

 was ill, or detained by some accidental circumstance, 

 he sent a man in his place. Bass went up to the 

 man, curiously scanning his face, whilst the man 

 rather retired from the dog, by no means hking his 

 appearance, and very anxious to decline all acquaint- 



