--Here, good dog, sing psalm; good dog, sing psalm,' and
thereupon a long loud melancholy howl rose wailing through the night
air.
"If that be not my dear old dog Sneezer, it is a deuced good imitation
of him," thought I.
The woman again spoke--"Yowl leetle piece more, good dog," and the howl
was repeated.
I was now certain. By this time I had risen, and stood at the open
window; but it was too dark to see any thing distinctly below. I could
barely distinguish two dark figures, and what I concluded was the dog
sitting on end between them.
"Who are you?" "What do you want with me?"
"Speak softly, massa, speak softly, or the sentry may hear us, for all
de rum I give him."
Here the dog recognised me, and nearly spoiled sport altogether; indeed
it might have cost us our lives, for he began to bark and frisk about,
and to leap violently against the end of the capstan--house, in vain
endeavours to reach the window. . "Down, Sneezer, down, sir; you used to
be a dog of some sense; down."
But Sneezer's joy had capsized his discretion, and the sound of my voice
pronouncing his name drove him mad altogether, and he bounded against
the end of the shed, like a battering--ram.
"Stop, man, stop," and I held down the bight of my neckcloth, with an
end in each hand. He retired, took a noble run, and in a trice hooked
his forepaws in the handkerchief, and I hauled him in at the window.
"Now, Sneezer, down with you, sir, down with you, or your rampaging will
get all our throats cut.
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