102 SALMON FISHING IN CANADA. 



" Another plague that annoyed us not a little, was the 

 dogs on the road from home to the scene of our sport ; which 

 were certainly the most ill-mannered brutes I ever had 

 the misfortune to be acquainted with. Twice a day had we 

 to run the gauntlet, and sustain a continued attack ; each 

 cur when he had barked himself hoarse, handing us over 

 to his neighbour. Horses in Canada are so accustomed to 

 this that they pay little attention to yelping, unless some 

 brute, more savage than the rest, attempts to seize them by 

 the nose, when they sometimes get frightened, and may 

 run away. Once or twice we observed our sagacious little 

 horse looking a little bothered at the assaults of one fierce 

 brnte, who must have had a cross of the bull-dog in him. 

 This was a black and shaggy cur of great size, whose wont 

 was to dart at once at the poor horse's mouth. We had 

 often flogged him severely, but he did not mind it in the 

 least, being protected by his thick woolly hair. One day 

 I put a long handle in my salmon gaff for his express use, 

 and when the savage darted at us, I watched my opportu- 

 nity and hooked him by the side. Louis whipped his 

 horse, who by his movements appeared to enjoy the punish- 

 ment of his enemy. Away we went at a rapid rate, the 

 dog yelling hideously, and the habitans running out of 

 their houses at the noise, and holding up their hands in 

 astonishment. After a little we stopped and I shook him 

 off, apparently not much the worse for the discipline he 

 had received. Next morning in going to our sport we saw 



