198 DOG-FIGHT 



traces unhooked, and the near rein thrown on the ground, 

 to try and make his pet desist from his unprovoked 

 attack. But this was a thing not so easily accompHshed 

 — his lips were fixed in too strong an embrace to be 

 readily separated. In vain did Bob grasp the two hind 

 legs of his favourite, with his snow-white gloves, like a 

 wheelbarrow ; in vain did the horsekeeper go down on 

 his knees and importune his canine friend, by taking his 

 tail quietly in his mouth and thus endeavouring to im- 

 press on its hard nature the necessity of forsaking his 

 ardent attachment. The leaders by this time had turned 

 round to go towards the stable, but the outside trace still 

 remaining hooked, pulled the fore-carriage round ; the 

 ofF-wheel horse reared, a crowd gathered round, and the 

 landlady had scrambled up and reached the door steps, 

 leaving the ladies in the coach, one of them looking from 

 the window, endeavouring to ascertain what was the 

 matter. The landlord now came with a broomstick over 

 his shoulder, looking as ferocious as an Italian bandit. 



" Take care," cried he, " I'll soon make 'em leave go ; " 

 and beoran belabourini^: them both indiscriminatelv% while 

 I, with shame be it spoken, was obliged to turn my head 

 away and bury it in my hands and coat to suppress the 

 laughter that convulsed me. " Hullo ! " exclaimed the 

 governor, who witnessed the scene with a most serious 

 visage, " you ought to be ashamed of yourself ; Avhy don't 

 you assist ? " 



Remonstrance, however, was for the present totally 

 thrown away upon me. In a short time order and quiet 

 were restored, and I became as the gravest. Handing the 

 ladies to their seats, after their refreshment, I apologized 



