DOGS I HAVE KNOWN 61 



we approached sat up and looked very gravely at 

 us. The keeper said, " I've brought a gentleman to 

 see you, old man," and I then spoke to him. The 

 dog turned and looked at me steadily for some 

 seconds, then rising and walking slowly to me, 

 reared up on his hind legs, and, putting one huge 

 paw on each shoulder, began to lick my face. That 

 was the introduction, and from that day until 

 " Wallace's " death we were the firmest of friends. 

 The man told me he had been broken for a keeper's 

 night- dog, and was a first-rate guard — would never 

 touch a child or bite a woman, but that he would 

 bite any man or beast he was set at ; and looking 

 at his size and power I did not disbelieve him. He 

 also warned me that no one must go near him when 

 he was feeding. After having a full account of the 

 dog, I went home, Wallace following me as if we 

 had known each other for years. Soon after I had 

 him, I went on a visit to a cousin who lived in a 

 town in the north of England, and Wallace, who 

 went with me, distinguished himself greatly whilst 

 there. One evening I was to meet my cousin at 

 his counting-house, and at the time fixed went 

 there, my dog, of course, accompanying me. On 

 reaching the office, finding that my cousin had gone 

 out, I sat down and waited, and as he did not make 

 his appearance so soon as was expected, the office- 



