240 TAFFY A GOOD WATCH-DOG. [CH. xiv. 



kept growling and snarling whenever he was being punished indeed, 

 on more than one occasion he fonght for the mastery, but unsuccess- 

 fully, for few men are more resolute than was Mr. A n. 



422. Taffy was an admirable watch-dog, and fully sensible of the 

 responsible duties that devolved upon him. It happened that, in 



a violent storm, late one evening, when Mr. A n was from 



home, the force of the wind drove in the front door. Taffy forth- 

 with commenced a search from the bottom of the house to the 

 top, apparently to ascertain that no stranger had entered, and he 

 then went downstairs. Next morning he was found lying across 

 the door-mat, where evidently he had remained the whole night, 

 although the cold and wet had been most severe. 



423. Taffy's character was so established as a sagacious, faithful 



guardian, that Mr. A n's sister-in-law, feeling nervous at her 



husband's being obliged to leave home, begged the loan of Taffy 



for a few nights. Mr. A n consented, and ordered Taffy, 



manifestly to his great annoyance, to remain at the house. Four 



days afterwards he reappeared at home, when Mr. A n, in the 



belief that he had run away, was about to beat him, but was 

 persuaded to suspend the punishment until it was ascertained 



whether Mrs. had not brought him into the neighbourhood. 



About an hour afterwards she arrived to make inquiries about the 

 dog, w r ho, she said, had left her house the moment her husband put 

 his foot' withinside the door. 



424. Taffy was also a sporting character, I fear I ought to say a 

 poaching character, for he was a peculiar dog, he had peculiar 

 ideas would that such ideas were more peculiar on the subject of 

 game, and fancied all means lawful that insured success. In the 

 Isle of Wight there once were (probably the spot is now drained) 

 ten or twelve acres of marsh-land, nearly surrounded by water, 

 much in the shape of a horse-shoe. It was a favourite resort for 

 hares, as Taffy well knew. His bulk prevented his ever having a 

 chance of catching any in a fair run ; he used, therefore, to dodge 

 about between them and the outlet, and would so worry and distress 

 them, that he was pretty certain of eventually carrying off one as a 

 prize. 



425. We all remember the story of the unfortunate tailor deluged 

 with a shower of dirty water by the indignant elephant whose pro- 

 boscis he had imprudently insulted in the morning by pricking it 

 with his needle, instead of presenting the expected delicacy. It 

 would appear as though Taffy had heard and understood the anecdote. 

 He was once pelted with stones by some boys from behind a wall : 

 having then no means of retaliating, he seemed to take the affront 

 quietly, but he did not forget it ; he patiently bided his time, and, 

 as opportunities offered, avenged himself upon each successively by 

 knocking them down in the dirt ; nor did he allow one to escape 

 unpunished, though some of them avoided him for three weeks or a 

 month. There were six offenders, and he made all the six expiate 

 their offences in a dirty kennel. 



426. Indeed, Taffy would never allow anybody, young or old, to 



