MASTIFFS 27 



sented himself in the bedroom, and was instantly ordered 

 out, which being complied with the poor animal began 

 scratching violently at the door and howling loudly for 

 admission. The servant was sent to drive him away, but 

 he returned again and was more importunate than before. 

 Sir Henry, weary of opposition and wishing to retire to 

 rest, bade the servant open the door to see what he wanted 

 to do. This done, the mastiif, wagging his tail and casting 

 a look of affection at his master, walked in, and crawling 

 under the bed lay down. T'o save further trouble he was 

 allowed to remain, and the valet withdrew. About mid- 

 night the bedroom door opened and a person was heard 

 stepping across the room. Sir Henry started from his 

 sleep ; the dog sprang from his covert, seized the in- 

 truder, and pinned him to the spot. All was dark, and Sir 

 Henry rang his bell in order to procure a light. The 

 person pinned to the floor roared for assistance. It was 

 found to be the favourite valet. He endeavoured to apolo- 

 gise for his intrusion and to make plausible excuses, but 

 the importunity of the dog, the time, the place, the manner 

 of the valet, raised suspicions in Sir Henry's mind, and he 

 determined to have all investigated before a magistrate. 

 The man, terrified by the threat of punishment and soothed 

 by the hope of pardon, finally confessed that it was his 

 intention to murder his master and rob the house. It is 

 needless to say the mastiff became a prime and honoured 

 favourite ever after. A full-length picture of Sir Henry, 

 with the mastiff by his side and the words ' More faithful 

 than favoured,' is preserved among the family pictures. 



Newfoundlands 



These dogs are a large and splendid breed, full of 

 ■affection, and fidelity, and at the same time extremely 

 sagacious ; all they want to make them really human 

 is the power of speech. A writer in the ' Field ' declares 

 there are three breeds — the Large, the Newfoundland 

 proper, the Larger Labrador, and the St. John or Lesser 



