Page:The red book of animal stories.djvu/339

317 THE LIFE AND DEATH OF PINCHER

was a native of Edinburgh, and was born about 1880. It is unfortunate that Dr. John Brown did not write the biography of Pincher, whom he probably knew, while I myself was unacquainted with the hero. This life is based on the recollections of the bereaved survivors of an illustrious hound.

On the mother's side, Pincher came of an old family of fox-terriers. His paternal descent is wrapped in mystery, but those who know the circumstances best believe that Pincher had bull-terrier blood in his veins. His ears were large and loosely flapping; his tail was short, thick, and columnar—that heroic tail which never but once was seen between his legs.

In very early youth Pincher was bestowed on a lady of mature age and maiden dignity, who dwelt in London. She became much attached to Pincher, but soon restored him to Edinburgh. On consulting her friends, and her own sense of propriety, she did not think it becoming that she should constantly appear in police courts. Yet this was her portion in life, owing to the military instincts of Pincher, still uncontrolled by knowledge of the world. Pincher drank delight of battle with his peers, and Wallace rejoiced not more in the blood of Englishmen than Pincher in the gore of English dogs. Through wide Bayswater he kept avenging Flodden, and was in police courts often. He was therefore restored to the bosom of his family, who resided in Douglas Crescent.

Reflection had taught Pincher that a refined Crescent