the room. Sir Harry started from
sleep; the dog sprung from his covert, and seizing the unwelcome
disturber, fixed him to the spot. All was dark: Sir Harry rang his
bell in great trepidation, in order to procure a light. The person
who was pinned to the floor by the courageous mastiff roared for
assistance. It was found to be the favourite valet, who little
expected such a reception. He endeavoured to apologise for his
intrusion, and to make the reasons which induced him to take this step
appear plausible; but the importunity of the dog, the time, the place,
the manner of the valet, raised suspicions in Sir Harry's mind, and he
determined to refer the investigation of the business to a magistrate.

The perfidious Italian, alternately terrified by the dread of
punishment and soothed by the hope of pardon, at length confessed that
it was his intention to murder his master, and then rob the house.
This diabolical design was frustrated solely by the unaccountable
sagacity of the dog and his devoted attachment to his master. A
full-length picture of Sir Harry, with the mastiff by his side, and
the words, "More faithful than favoured," is still preserved among the
family pictures.

Presentiments of approaching danger, such as those now related, are to
be traced only to the animal's close observation and watchful jealousy
of disposition. Looks, signs, and movements are noticed by him which
escape an ordinary observer. The idea that dogs have presentiments of
death, and howl on such occasions, is a superstition now all but
vanished.

In October 1800, a young man going into a place of public
entertainment at Paris, was told that his dog (a fine mastiff) could
not be permitted to enter, and he was accordingly left with the guard
at the door. The young man was scarcely entered into the lobby, when
his watch was stolen. He returned to the guard, and prayed that his
dog might be admitted, as, through his means, he might discover the
thief: the dog was suffered to accompany his master, who intimated to
the animal that he had lost something; the dog set out immediately in
quest of the strayed article, and fastened on the thief, whose guilt
on searching him was made apparent: the fellow had no less than six
watches in his pocket, which being laid before the dog, he
distinguished his master's, took it up by the string, and bore it to
him in safety.

At the castle of a nobleman in Bohemia, a large English mastiff was
kept, that ne