THE DOS. 



for them, and set about devising some means of protection for 

 the future. 



There happened to reside in the neighbourhood a great dog — 

 half mastiflF, half blood-hound — called Nelson. The lads had 

 observed how satisfied the haymakers were to leave their jackets 

 and dinners even in the charge of a little cur-dog, and so 

 resolved to press Nelson as store-keeper. 



" We took Nelson with us, being the only dog that we knew, 

 and when we had undressed we put him in charge. He laid 

 down in the most exemplary manner, and doubtless would have 

 made an excellent guardian had he not been disturbed by an 

 unexpected incident. The field was fall of cows, and they, 

 seeing a great dog in the field, felt aggrieved and summoned a 

 counciL In a very few minutes the whole body of cows set up 

 their tails and charged down upon Nelson. He lay in some 

 perplexity till one or two of them almost poked him with their 

 horns, when he lost his calmness of demeanour and dashed at 

 the nearest cow. His teeth, however, were nearly gone from 

 old age, and the cow easily shook him off. There was then a 

 grand battle, in which our clothes seemed Kkely to be trodden 

 to pieces, so we were forced to take them up and swim across 

 the river with them, and deposit them on the opposite bank, 

 where there were no cows. We then got Nelson away and 

 took him -over ; but we never afterwards trusted a big dog to 

 take care of our clothes." 



The same authority tells a singular dog-and-lamb story. 

 The dog was not of the sheep-herding breed, but a great 

 spotted Danish dog, commonly used to accompany carriages. 

 " One of these animals was of a very playfal disposition, and 

 particnlarly rejoiced in chasing sheep, although he never hurt 

 them. He was one day amusing himself in this manner, and 

 making a flock of sheep scatter in all directions, when a black 

 lamb turned round and looked him in the face. The dog was 

 quite taken aback, and remained irresolute, until the black lamb 

 began to dance about and play with him. This generosity oi 

 disposition quite overcame the dog, and he slunk away with his 

 tail between his legs, and seemed thoroughly confused. Pre- 

 sently his new-made acquaintance began to challenge him to a 

 game of play, by cutting all manner of capers round him. By 

 degrees the dog regained his composure of mind and accepted 

 the challenge. Off they went, tumbling over each other and 

 playing hke a couple of kittens. They ran off at such a pace, 

 that lis boy who was in charge of the flock began to he 



