which he was more than twice the size, and holding on to the skin of
his neck with his long teeth; whilst George was looking on with
scarcely suppressed amusement.

"I think, Mr. Caresfoot, that you had better call your dog off," said
Arthur, good-temperedly. "Mine is a peaceable animal, but he is an
awkward customer when he does fight."

"Oh! better let them settle it; they will be much better friends
afterwards. Hold him, Snarleyow."

Thus encouraged, the big dog seized the other, and fairly lifted him
off the ground, shaking him violently--a proceeding that had the
effect of thoroughly rousing Aleck's temper. And then began a most
Homeric combat. At first the bull-dog was dreadfully mauled; his
antagonist's size, weight, and length of leg and jaw, to say nothing
of the thick coat by which he was protected, all telling against him.
But he took his punishment very quietly, never so much as uttering a
growl, in strange contrast to the big dog's vociferous style of doing
business. And at last patience was rewarded by his enemy's fore-paw
finding its way into Aleck's powerful jaw, and remaining there till
Snarleyow's attentions to the back of his neck forced him to shift his
hold. From that time forward the sheep-dog had to fight on three legs,
which he found demoralizing. But still he had the advantage, and it
was not until any other dog of Aleck's size would have retreated half
killed that the bull-dog's superior courage and stamina began to tell.
Quite heedless of his injuries, and the blood that poured into his
eyes, he slowly but surely drove the great sheep-dog, who by this time
would have been glad to stop, back into an angle of the wall, and then
suddenly pinned him by the throat. Down went Snarleyow on the top of