om of a deep ravine, and Sirrah standing in front of
them, looking all around for some relief. We concluded that it was one of
the divisions of the lambs which Sirrah had been unable to manage until he
came to that commanding situation. But what was our astonishment when we
discovered by degrees that not one was wanting! How he had got all the
divisions collected in the dark is beyond my comprehension. I never felt
so grateful to any creature below the sun as I did to my honest Sirrah
that morning."

[Illustration]

ANECDOTE LXVI.

Foraging.

A constable once made a complaint before a bench of London magistrates
against a horse for stealing hay. The complainant stated that the horse
came regularly every night of its own accord, and without any attendant,
to the coach-stands in St. George's, fully satisfied his appetite, and
then galloped away. He defied the whole of the parish officers to
apprehend him; for if they attempted to go near him while he was eating,
he would throw up his heels and kick at them, or run at them, and if they
did not go out of the way, he would bite them. The constable therefore
thought it best to represent the case to the magistrates.

_One of the Magistrates:_ "Well, Mr. Constable, if you should be annoyed
again by this animal in the execution of your duty, you may apprehend him
if you can, and bring him before us to answer your complaints."

[Illustration]

ANECDOTE LXVII.

Going to Market.

A butcher and cattle dealer had a dog which he usually took with him when
he drove cattle to the market, at a town some nine miles distant from his
home, to be sold, and who displayed uncommon dexterity in managing them.
At last, so convinced was the master of the sagacity, as well as the
fidelity of his dog, that he made a wager that he would entrust him with a
fixed number of sheep and oxen to drive alone to market. It was stipulated
that no person should be within sight or hearing, who had the least
control over the dog; nor was any spectator to interfere, or be within a
quarter of a mile. On the day of trial, the dog proceeded with his
business in the most dexterous and steady manner; and although he had
frequently to drive his charge through the herds who were grazing, yet he
never lost one, but conducting them into the very yard to which he was
used to drive them when with his master, he significantly delivered them
up to the person appointed to receive them, by barking at