THE DOG. 167 



he drank immoderately, and left the place in a state of 

 intoxication. Having passed the village of Newheed in 

 safety, he took his way over Snodland Brook, which, in 

 the best season of the year, is a very dangerous road for 

 a drunken man. At this time, the whole face of the 

 country was covered with a deep snow, and the frost was 

 intense : he had, however, proceeded in safety till he 

 came to the Willow Walk, within half a mile of the 

 church, when, by a sudden stagger, he quitted the path, 

 and passed over a ditch on his right hand. Not appre- 

 hending he was going astray, he took towards the river ; 

 but having a high bank to mount, and being nearly 

 exhausted with wandering and the effect of the liquor, 

 he was providentially prevented from rising the mound, 

 or he certainly must have precipitated himself (as it was 

 near high-water) into the Medway. 



At this moment, completely overcome, he fell amongst 

 the snow in one of the coldest nights ever known, turn- 

 ing upon his back. He was soon overpowered with 

 either sleep or cold ; when his faithful dependant, who 

 had closely attended to every step, scratched away the 

 snow so as to throw up a sort of protecting wall around 

 his helpless master, then mounting upon the exposed 

 body, rolled himself round, and lay upon his master's 

 bosom, for which his shaggy coat proved a most sea- 



