166 



THE MASTIFF. 



on a mastiff, who would never let the school-boys rob the 

 orchard ; and found, to his sorrow, that he had a dog to deal 

 with who did not care which end of a boy came foremost, so 

 as he could get a good bite. Having no eyes save those in 

 front, Curran fancied, as he pursued the instructions, that the 

 mastiff was in full retreat -, but he was greatly mistaken, for 

 at the very moment he thought himself victorious and about 

 to be rewarded with apples, the dog attacked his centre of 

 gravity, and was fully prepared to repeat this kind of warm 

 salutation when the boy was rescued. 



THE ALPINE SPANIEL OF ST. BERNARD. 



This noble dog, often improperly called a mastiff, possesses 

 extraordinary sagacity, docility, and acute scent, all which 

 qualities it devotes to the most useful purpose that of 

 rescuing mountain travellers from destruction. 



The perilous passage of the Alps, between Switzerland and 



