home,
late one Saturday evening, on horseback, from a convivial meeting, as he
galloped past the stable he met Arrogante, and wantonly struck at him
with a hunting whip. He was a large man, and rode a powerful horse,
which was going at full speed, so that he escaped before the astonished
dog recovered from his surprise.

"The next morning the gentleman was on his way to church mounted as
before. Arrogante, who was watching for him, at once knew the tread of
his horse, and stood grimly awaiting his insulter. When the gentleman
had approached within a few yards, the dog gave a spring, and met him in
the air, in a deadly aim at his throat. Nothing but the sudden jump of
the very active horse saved the rider's throat and his life; but so
narrowly had he escaped, that he felt the gnashing teeth of the
frenzied brute scrape down his dress, where they came in contact with,
and closed upon, his watch, tearing it away with the adjacent clothing,
and chewing it into atoms. The cause of this terrible onset not being
disclosed at the time, Mr. Rotch, though convinced that Arrogante had
not been the aggressor, felt obliged to have him shot."

CHAPTER VII.

THE INTELLIGENT POODLES.

"You promised, cousin Ida, to read about the Stockholm dog."

"I will, Minnie; but uncle George has something to tell you."

"Read it now, Ida," said Mr. Lee, "and I will relate my stories
afterward."

"A captain of an English merchant vessel arrived in the port of
Stockholm, in Sweden, and was soon afterward seized with an illness, of
which he died. At the time of his death, he had on board a fine, large
Newfoundland dog, which was fondly attached to him. On the day of the
captain's funeral, Neptune was allowed to follow his poor master to the
grave; and, after the funeral ceremony had been performed, the officers
and crew made every exertion to induce the dog to follow them to the
ship, but all in vain; and their endeavors to catch him proving
fruitless, they left him in the churchyard.

"During the short time the ship remained in port, Neptune might be seen
at all times lying with his head on the grave, and every day the sailors
brought him his food; but he was so vigilant on these occasions that
they never could get near him, to take him back to the ship, and they
were obliged to sail without him.

"The neighboring Swedish inhabitants, in admiration of the extraordinary
attachment displayed by this animal to his late master, made