CHAP. V. 



THE DOGS OF MACHACHL 



119 



For the future I went about armed with a bludgeon, as these 

 guardians seemed quite capable of eating one up. If this had 

 occurred^ and their masters had been brought before a Jefo- 

 politico, the defence would have been substantially the same as 

 that which was made by a gentleman, living in a Midland county, 

 whose two Pyrenean mastiffs, on meeting a curate riding on horse- 

 back, hunted him and pulled him down. Their owner assured 

 the Bench that they were the gentlest creatures alive, but they 

 were unaccustomed to see curates riding on horseback, and 

 thought it was improper. The Machachi men would have said, 

 ^^ It is certainly to be deplored that there is nothing left of the 

 Doctor except the buckles of his braces, but this is not the fault 

 of the dogs, who are the best dogs in the World. The fact is, 

 the Senor would go on foot, he would not ride on horseback, 

 and the dogs did not understand it '' ; and there is no doubt that 

 the defence would have been considered a good one. 



INDIAN REED-PIPES. 



