KIDD’S OWN JOURNAL. 

361 

AUTO-BIOGRAPHY OF A DOG,—No. XX. 
WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. 
(Continued from Page 298.) 

I promisep, my dear friend, in my last, to 
recur to the adventures of Bombyx and myself 
with the worthy rural policeman; and to recount 
the principal scenes which led, eventually, to his 
complete discomfiture. The policeman was evi- 
dently very annoyed at the result of his appli- 
cation tothe municipal tribunal; and, accordingly, 
made up his mind to be revenged one way or the 
other. War, & l’outrance, was the order of the 
day. 
Before proceeding further, I must give you a 
little insight into the relative position of our resi- 
dence, and that of a few contiguous houses. The 
back part of our house was on the high road; and 
the entire premises were enclosed within a high 
wall. Near the back gates, were the stabling, &c. 
The front gates.were on a corner angle of the 
high road. At a*considerable distance from the 
back gates, was the residence of ‘‘ David le Dinde” 
(the farmer), and his sweet wife ‘la Nannetta,”’ 
sans oublier ses Mignons de jolis enfans. 
At about ten minutes’ walk from our house, 
was,a dirty, low “‘ pinte,” kept by a certain R——, 
one bf the worst revolutionary Radicals you could 
well imagine—a scoundrel who, for a few ‘‘ batzen,” 
would undertake any job that presented itself. 
This horrid den was the rendezvous of all the 
thieves and vagabonds of Cour, who assembled 
there to concoct revolutionary plans, to concert 
robberies, discuss politics, and drink oceans of 
cheap wine. These all served to inflame their 
vile passions. ‘This nest of horrors was the pest 
of Cour; and mine host was the prince of these 
demons; and being a great friend of the worthy 
policeman, and as great an enemy to Bombyx 
(whom these worthies honored with the name of 
“ fistow’”’), he readily entered into his friend’s 
plan of revenging himself on us. 
There were, also, in immediate proximity to 
this “ pinte,” a number of Vieilles Baraques, in- 
habited by the friends and customers of R 
all equally respectable with himself. However, 
on the opposite side of the road to our house, was 
the cottage of an old farmer, to whom I have 
already alluded (Pére H.), and his Bernese do- 
mestic, la Catharina. Now, Bombyx and Pére 
H. were always on good terms, and many and 
frequent were the kindly offices that passed be- 
tween them. This old farmer was, at various 
times of the night, on the move to catch a glimpse 
over his premises, which had several times been 
robbed; and he would often make his tour well 
armed; and in case of need, would doubtless know 
how to make use of his arms. To use his own 
expression as nearly as may be, he would tell 
Bombyx—Ch’ai soufent caché moiméme terriére 
un arpre et ch'ar fu te bien troles te choses; and 
a bottle of old “‘rozzo” would put Bombyx in 
possession of these troles te choses. 
Besides this, Bombyx and Pére H., avec la 
Catherina et sa petite chivra, were really very good 
friends : and now to my story. 
One winter evening, about eight o'clock, 
when Bombyx was just going to supper (and 
luckily ‘‘ Pere H.” was doing the same thing), a 
violent ring at the bell was heard; and the Vau- 



dois servant, Francois (mentioned in a former 
number, when I gave an account of the grand 
Review), went out to the gate, accompanied by 
myself and my brother, as usual. We saw no- 
body in the shape of a human being; but a voice 
familiar to us all (which came from just round 
the corner), said,—that its possessor wished to 
speak a word to Frangois. Not suspecting any- 
thing, he went towards the party, and was imme- 
diately knocked down and violently beaten by 
several of these rascals. Of course, I imme- 
diately seized one of them; but was stabbed by 
another cowardly villain (straight down the left 
fore-lee) with a sharp but thin stiletto. This put 
me, for a little while, hors de combat. The cries 
of “aw secours,’ were at length heard; when 
Bombyx and his sons rushed down, well armed 
with double-barrelled pistols and guns. But the 
‘wretches were off,—pursued, however, by Carlo, 
who luckily escaped unhurt. The monsters, no 
doubt, were too much occupied with their own 
safety to think of destroying him. The servant 
was brought in, and a medical friend instantly 
sent for. Upon recovering himself a little, he 
declared that he perfectly recognised two of his 
assailants. 
Most fortunately (as I have already said), Pere 
H. and “la Catharina’ were about going to 
supper; but seeing an unusual number ot people 
sauntering about under Bombyx’s back windows, 
Pére H. had the good tact to slip out of his cot- 
tage by the back-door, came down unperceived 
close under a wall, and there recognised the whole 
lot. He was accampanied also by his “Catharina,” 
who also knew most of them. ‘They saw one of 
them ring Bombyx’s bell; but, thinking it was 
only a foolish lark or a run-away ring, they re- 
turned in-doors. However, on hearing the row, 
‘and cries of “aw secowrs,” they came out again 
instanter, just in time to see the rascals in the act 
of bolting. 
Upon this information, obtained from Pére H. 
and “la Catharina,” Bombyx went up the next 
morning to the Juge de Paix, and got a separate 
warrant against each individual; charging them _|| 
all, separately and collectively, with the injury 
done to myself, and the murderous assault on the 
servant. My friend, the Juge de Paix, however, 
happened to be just upon the eve of a new election, 
and wanted the votes of these Radicals. He 
therefore put off sending these warrants; hoping 
the election would be over, before he need offend 
the “gentlemen.” Bombyx remonstrated with 
him on his tardiness; but to no effect. He then 
went tothe British Ambassador; and the result 
was, that the warrants were issued the next 
morning ; and these gentry, who had made sure 
that nobody could have seen them, and that Fran- 
cois alone could recognise, and bear witness 
against them, were so astonished at finding every 
one of the actors in the plot named, that they 
were nearly petrified. 
It must be evident, then, that they were known; 
and equally evident that the consequences would 
be most serious, as they got scent of the fact of 
Bombyx having requested the British Ambas- 
sador to stir up the spirit of the Juge de Paix. 
They thought it better at once to cry Peccavi; and 
depute one of their party to come forward and 
confess the whole business, apologising and trust- 

