OKDER V. THE CARNIVORA. 89 



.idniitted that he had a large dog, wliich lie had houglit fur a trifle from a 

 couple of eoal-eartcrs ; and at List, with great reluetance, iic gave up the 

 dog to tlie letter-carrier, who brought him home. But though Bass's 

 bark is so terrific, he is tiic best naturcd and most playful dog I ever saw ; 

 so much so, indeed, that a small King Charles Spaniel Lapdog used to 

 tyrannize over him for many months after he came here from abroad. I 

 have seen the little creature run fiu-iously at the great animal when gnawing 

 a bone, who instantly turned himself submissively over on his back, with 

 all his legs in the air, whilst the Spaniel, seizing the bone, would make the 

 most absurd and unavailing attempts to bestride the enormous head of his 

 subdued companion, with the most ludicrous affectation of the terrible 

 growling that might bespeak the loftiest description of dog indignation. 

 Bass has for some time ceased to tolerate this tyranny, having upon one 

 occasion given the little fellow an admonitory shake ; but he is at all times 

 in perfect good humor with him, though the S[)aniel, from jealousy, is 

 always glad to avail himself of an opportunity of flying at him. ^^ hen a 

 dog attacks Bass in the street or road, he runs away rather than ipiarrel ; 

 but when compelled to figlit, by any perseverance in the attacking party, 

 he tiu-ns upon him, throws his enemy down in a moment, and then, with- 

 out biting him, he lays his whole immense bulk down upon him till he 

 nearly smothers him. But this extreme softness arises from his youth ; for 

 if he were once fairly engaged, I lia\e no doubt that he would Ijc most 

 formidable either to quadruped or biped who should venture to attack him. 

 To give you an idea of his strength, I may tell you an anecdote which iia[)- 

 pened a good many montlis ago. lie took a particidar fancy for one of the 

 postmen who deliver letters here, though he was not the man whom I have 

 already had occasion to mention. It was the duty of the postman I now 

 allude to, to carry a letter-bag from one receiving house to another, and 

 this bag he used to give to Bass to carry. Bass always followed that man 

 through all the villas in this neighborhood where he had deli\eries to make ; 

 and he invariably parted Mith him opposite to the gate of the Convent of 

 St. jNIargaret's, and returned home. When our gate was shut here, to 

 prevent his following the postman, the dog always leaped a high wall to 

 get after him. One day, when the postman was ill, or detained by some 

 accidental circumstance, he sent a man in his place. Bass went up to the 

 man, curiously scanning his face, whilst the man rather retired from the 

 dog, by no means liking his appearance, and very anxious to decline all 

 acipiaintanco with him. But as the man left the place Bass followed him, 

 showing strong symptoms that he was determined to have the post-bag. 

 The man did all he could to keep possession of it. But at length Bass, 

 seeing that he had no chance of getting possession of the bag by civil 



NO. HI. 12 



