308 DOGS : THEIR MANAGEMENT. 



to -wait some few minutes, during wliich time the writer's 

 eyes were kept upon tlie huge creature. It was remarked 

 to look round in a strange manner. The eye was retracted 

 and the nose dry. It was at length seen to put its mouth 

 against its master's hoot, continue in that position uttering 

 a strange noise, and to move its jaws as if hiting at some 

 suhstance. The hutcher all this time stood perfectly 

 still, allowing his favorite to follow the bent of its incli- 

 nation without rebuke or opposition. When the mas- 

 tiff's head was removed, the boot it had apparently been 

 biting was perfectly dry. The author observed nothing 

 more than this ; but, afraid to confess his dread, lest the 

 cry of mad dog should be raised, and do more, much 

 more, harm than good, he called to the butcher, telling 

 him hfe was going abroad shortly, and would call upon 

 him. In the mean time, he was to take the dog home, 

 place it where it could do no injury, and in a place 

 whence there was no possibility of escape. The man 

 touched his hair and retired. 



No time elapsed before the author paid his promised 

 visit ; and when he did so, he was pleased to hear the dog 

 was securely confined in that which ought to have been 

 the front kitchen of the house in which the hutcher 

 resided. To this spot the man led the way, and was 

 about fearlessly to open the door, when he was entreated 

 to stay his hand. The author listened at the closed 

 entrance, and from the interior there soon came forth 

 sounds that left no doubt of the poor creature's real con- 

 dition. The butcher was thereupon informed that his 



