The tennis-court was at some little distance from the house, and
they were walking across the garden when they heard a scream. At
a short distance was the governess with her two young charges. She
had thrown her arms round them, and stood the picture of terror,
uttering loud screams.

Looking round in astonishment to discover the cause of her terror,
Harry saw a large wolf-hound running towards them at a trot. Its
tongue was hanging out, and there was a white foam on its jaws. He
had heard M. du Tillet tell the marquis on the previous day that
this dog, which was a great favourite, seemed strange and unquiet,
and he had ordered it to be chained up. It had evidently broken
its fastening, for it was dragging a piece of chain some six feet
long behind It.


It flashed across him at once that the animal was mad, but without
an instant's hesitation he dashed off at full speed and threw himself
in front of the ladies before the dog reached them. Snatching off
his coat, and then kneeling on one knee, he awaited the animal's
attack. Without deviating from its course the hound sprang at him
with a short snarling howl. Harry threw his coat over its head and
then grasped it round the neck.

The impetus of the spring knocked him over, and they rolled together
on the ground. The animal struggled furiously, but Harry retained
his grasp round its neck. In vain the hound tried to free itself
from its blinding encumbrance, or to bite his assailant through
it, and struggled to shake off his hold with its legs and claws.