CH. xiv.] SULTAN AND THE GATE-KEY. 239 



sallies, and having rung uselessly for a little time at the front door, 

 I went round to the carriage-gate to have a chat with my silky- 

 haired favourite. He barked anxiously ; thrust his cold nose through 

 an opening near the ground ; scratched vigorously to increase its 

 size ; and in numerous ways testified great joy at again hearing my 

 voice. I put my hand under the gate to caress him, and while he 

 was licking it, I said in jest, but in a distinct, loud voice, ' Dear 

 Medor, I am shut out go, bring me the keys.' It so happened that 

 the stable where they usually hung was not closed. Medor ran off, 

 and in a few seconds returned and placed them in my hands. I 

 will not attempt to describe my gratification at such a striking proof 

 of his intelligence, nor his evident pride at seeing me enter the hall ; 

 nor yet the fright of the servant at thinking how long the street- 

 door must have been carelessly left open. ' Medor deserves that 

 his life should be written,' said I to my uncle when afterwards 

 telling him the whole story ; ' I am sure his deeds are as wonderful 

 as those related of the " Chiens celebres" by De Freville.' 



" My setter was immediately declared * Keeper of the Keys,' and 

 forthwith invested with all the rights of office, nor was this con- 

 fidence misplaced. He would never give up his charge to any one 

 but to my uncle or myself ; and always seemed fully sensible of the 

 dignity and responsibility of his new position." 



420. Another anecdote touching keys. 



A family residing at Chepstow had a house with a gate leading 

 into the castle-ditch, and they used to pass through it almost daily 

 in order to avoid the bustle of the town. The key of this gate was 

 kept in the kitchen, and a black retriever, Sultan by name, was 

 accustomed to ask the cook for it by pulling her dress until he suc- 

 ceeded in bringing her under the nail on which the key was hung, 

 and he always returned it most honestly when the family had done 

 with it. One day, however, having brought it back as usual, he 

 found the cook too busy to attend to him, and, growing impatient 

 he trotted off with it, and for a whole fortnight it was missing. At 



length Miss , being much inconvenienced by its loss, armed 



herself with a whip, and, standing by the gate, called the dog, and 

 said in a very determined tone, " Now, Sultan, bring me that key 

 directly." Off he went to a gooseberry-bush, scratched up the key, 

 and brought it to her. He had, probably, found the same spot a 

 safe depository for many a bone. 



421. Mr. A n, with whom I was slightly acquainted, a man 



of great originality, and singular shrewdness and intelligence, had 

 a dog called Taffy, who had a remarkable aptitude for comprehending 

 whatever was told him. He knew by name every member of Mr. 



a certainty 



harder grip ;" the dog would bite more firmly. At the third order, 

 " Harder, my boy, yet harder," the party assaulted would be too 

 glad to sue for mercy ; for no one dared to strike Taffy excepting 

 Mr. A n. Even to him the animal never submitted quietly, but 



