inting to the captain, said, "Fetch it, Bob." My
companion cleared the street in three or four bounds, and in a few
seconds afterwards made a spring up the back of Captain Delmar, and
seizing the tail, hung by it with his teeth, shaking it with all his
might as he hung in the air.

Captain Delmar was, to use a sailor's term, completely taken aback;
indeed he was nearly capsized by the unexpected assault. For a short
time he could not discover what it was; at last, by turning his head
over his shoulder and putting his hand behind him, he discovered who his
assailant was.

Just at that time, I called out "Mad dog! mad dog!" and Captain Delmar,
hearing those alarming words, became dreadfully frightened; his cocked
hat dropped from his head, and he took to his heels as fast as he could,
running down the street, with Bob clinging behind him.

The first open door he perceived was that of my mother's library; he
burst in, nearly upsetting Captain Bridgeman, who was seated at the
counter, talking to Aunt Milly, crying out "Help! help!" As he turned
round, his sword became entangled between his legs, tripped him up, and
he fell on the floor. This unhooked the tail, and Bob galloped out of
the shop, bearing his prize to me, who, with the little middy, remained
in the street convulsed with laughter. Bob delivered up the tail, which
I again concealed under my pinafore, and then with a demure face
ventured to walk towards my mother's house, and, going in at the back
door, put Master Bob in the wash-house out of the way; the little middy
who had picked up the captain's hat, giving me a wink as I passed him,
as much as to say, I won't inform against you.

In the meantime Captain Delmar had been assisted to his legs by Captain
Bridgeman, who well knew who had played the trick, and who, as well as
Aunt Milly, had great difficulty in controlling his mirth.

"Merciful heaven! what was it? Was the animal mad? Has it bitten me?"
exclaimed Captain Delmar, falling back in his chair, in which he had
been seated by Captain Bridgeman.

"I really do not know," replied Captain Bridgeman; "but you are not
hurt, sir, apparently, nor indeed is your coat torn."

"What dog--whose dog can it be?--it must be shot immediately--I shall
give orders--I shall report the case to the admiral. May I ask for a
glass of water? Oh, Mr Dott! you're there, sir; how came you to allow
that dog to fasten himself on my back in that way?"

"If you please