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the fellow in his car； but my friend the station…master shouted out
that everything was all right；the man was properly packed；
invoiced and paid for； and the train； which was behind time； moved
away before the irate agent could take measures to get rid of his
unwelcome freight。
〃Now；〃 said I； 〃there'll be a drunken man at the police…station in
Hackingford in about half…an…hour。 His offense will be as evident
there as here； and they can do what they please with him。 I shall
telegraph； to explain the matter and prepare them for his arrival。〃
When I had done this Euphemia and I went home。 The tramp had cost
me some money； but I was well satisfied with my evening's work； and
felt that the township owed me； at least； a vote of thanks。
But I firmly made up my mind that Euphemia should never again be
left unprotected。 I would not even trust to a servant who would
agree to have no afternoons out。 I would get a dog。
The next day I advertised for a fierce watchdog； and in the course
of a week I got one。 Before I procured him I examined into the
merits； and price； of about one hundred dogs。 My dog was named
Pete； but I determined to make a change in that respect。 He was a
very tall； bony； powerful beast； of a dull black color； and with a
lower jaw that would crack the hind…leg of an ox； so I was
informed。 He was of a varied breed； and the good Irishman of whom
I bought him said he had fine blood in him； and attempted to refer
him back to the different classes of dogs from which he had been
derived。 But after I had had him awhile； I made an analysis based
on his appearance and character； and concluded that he was mainly
blood…hound； shaded with wolf…dog and mastiff； and picked out with
touches of bull…dog。
The man brought him home for me； and chained him up in an unused
wood…shed； for I had no doghouse as yet。
〃Now thin；〃 said he； 〃all you've got to do is to keep 'im chained
up there for three or four days till he gets used to ye。 An' I'll
tell ye the best way to make a dog like ye。 Jist give him a good
lickin'。 Then he'll know yer his master； and he'll like ye iver
aftherward。 There's plenty of people that don't know that。 And；
by the way； sir； that chain's none too strong for 'im。 I got it
when he wasn't mor'n half grown。 Ye'd bether git him a new one。〃
When the man had gone； I stood and looked at the dog； and could not
help hoping that he would learn to like me without the intervention
of a thrashing。 Such harsh methods were not always necessary； I
felt sure。
After our evening meala combination of dinner and supper； of
which Euphemia used to say that she did not know whether to call it
dinper or supnerwe went out together to look at our new guardian。
Euphemia was charmed with him。
〃How massive！〃 she exclaimed。 〃What splendid limbs！ And look at
that immense head！ I know I shall never be afraid now。 I feel
that that is a dog I can rely upon。 Make him stand up； please； so
I can see how tall he is。〃
〃I think it would be better not to disturb him；〃 I answered； 〃he
may be tired。 He will get up of his own accord very soon。 And
indeed I hope that he will not get up until I go to the store and
get him a new chain。〃
As I said this I made a step forward to look at his chain； and at
that instant a low growl； like the first rumblings of an
earthquake； ran through the dog。
I stepped back again and walked over to the village for the chain。
The dog…chains shown me at the store all seemed too short and too
weak； and I concluded to buy two chains such as used for hitching
horses and to join them so as to make a long as well as a strong
one of them。 I wanted him to be able to come out of the wood…shed
when it should be necessary to show himself。
On my way home with my purchase the thought suddenly struck me； How
will you put that chain on your dog？ The memory of the rumbling
growl was still vivid。
I never put the chain on him。 As I approached him with it in my
hand； he rose to his feet； his eyes sparkled； his black lips drew
back from his mighty teeth； he gave one savage bark and sprang at
me。
His chain held and I went into the house。 That night he broke
loose and went home to his master； who lived fully ten miles away。
When I found in the morning that he was gone I was in doubt whether
it would be better to go and look for him or not。 But I concluded
to keep up a brave heart； and found him； as I expected； at the
place where I had bought him。 The Irishman took him to my house
again and I had to pay for the man's loss of time as well as for
his fare on the railroad。 But the dog's old master chained him up
with the new chain and I felt repaid for my outlay。
Every morning and night I fed that dog； and I spoke as kindly and
gently to him as I knew how。 But he seemed to cherish a distaste
for me； and always greeted me with a growl。 He was an awful dog。
About a week after the arrival of this animal； I was astonished and
frightened on nearing the house to hear a scream from my wife。 I
rushed into the yard and was greeted with a succession of screams
from two voices； that seemed to come from the vicinity of the wood…
shed。 Hurrying thither； I perceived Euphemia standing on the roof
of the shed in perilous proximity to the edge； while near the ridge
of the roof sat our hired girl with her handkerchief over her head。
〃Hurry； hurry！〃 cried Euphemia。 〃Climb up here！ The dog is loose！
Be quick！ Be quick！ Oh！ he's coming； he's coming！〃
I asked for no explanation。 There was a rail…fence by the side of
the shed and I sprang on this； and was on the roof just as the dog
came bounding and barking from the barn。
Instantly Euphemia had me in her arms； and we came very near going
off the roof together。
〃I never feared to have you come home before；〃 she sobbed。 〃I
thought he would tear you limb from limb。〃
〃But how did all this happen？〃 said I。
〃Och！ I kin hardly remember；〃 said the girl from under her
handkerchief。
〃Well； I didn't ask you；〃 I said； somewhat too sharply。
〃Oh； I'll tell you；〃 said Euphemia。 〃There was a man at the gate
and he looked suspicious and didn't try to come in； and Mary was at
the barn looking for an egg； and I thought this was a good time to
see whether the dog was a good watch…dog or not； so I went and
unchained him〃
〃Did you unchain that dog？〃 I cried。
〃Yes； and the minute he was loose he made a rush at the gate； but
the man was gone before he got there； and as he ran down the road I
saw that he was Mr。 Henderson's man； who was coming here on an
errand； I expect； and then I went down to the barn to get Mary to
come and help me chain up the dog； and when she came out he began
to chase me and then her； and we were so frightened that we climbed
up here； and I don't know； I'm sure； how I ever got up that fence；
and do you think he can climb up here？〃
〃Oh no！ my dear；〃 I said。
〃An' he's just the beast to go afther a stip…ladder；〃 said the
girl； in muffled tones。
〃And what are we to do？〃 asked Euphemia。 〃We can't eat and sleep
up here。 Don't you think that if we were all to shout out
together； we could make some neighbor hear？〃
〃Oh