here was the rattling of chains, as
half a dozen dogs seemed to have rushed out of their kennels, and they
began baying furiously, with the result that the horse threw up his head
and uttered a loud neigh. Then there was a trampling, as of some one in
very heavy nailed boots over a paved yard, and after the rattling of
bolts, the clang of a great iron bar, and the sharp click of a big lock,
a sour-looking man drew back first one gate and then the other, each
fold uttering a dissatisfied creak as if disliking to be disturbed.

The horse wanted no driving, but walked right into the yard and across
to a large open shed, while five dogs--there were not six--barked and
bayed at me, tugging at their chains. There was a large Newfoundland--
this was before the days of Saint Bernards--a couple of spotted
coach-dogs, a great hound of some kind with shortly cropped ears, and
looking like a terrier grown out of knowledge, and a curly black
retriever, each of which had a great green kennel, and they tugged so
furiously at their chains that it seemed as if they would drag their
houses across the yard in an attack upon the stranger.

"Get out!" shouted Mr Solomon as the sour-looking man closed and
fastened the doors; but the dogs barked the more furiously. "Here, come
along," said Mr Solomon to me, and he took me up to the great
furious-looking hound on whose neck, as I approached, I could see a
brass collar studded with spikes, while as we closed up, his white teeth
glistened, and I could see right into his great red mouth with its black
gums.

"Hi, Nero!" cried Mr Solomon, as I began to feel extremely nervous.
"Steady, boy. This is Grant. Now, Grant, make friends."

There was a tremendous chorus of barks here, just as if Nero was out of
patience, and the other four dogs were savage because he was going to be
fed with the new boy before them; but as Mr Solomon laid his hand on
the great fierce-looking beast's head it ceased barking, and the others
stopped as well.

"He won't hurt you now," said Mr Solomon. "Come close."

I did not like the task, for I was doubtful of the gardener's knowledge,
but I did go close up, and the great dog began to smell me from my toes
upwards, and subsided into a low growl that sounded like disappointment
that he was not to eat me.

"Pat him now," said Mr Solomon.

I obeyed rather nervously, and the great dog threw up his head and began
striking at me with one great paw, which I found mean