"What is it?" we all cried in a breath. "Landlord! landlord!" he cried, imitating the voice of the singing master, "cum quick! Somebody cum! There's a dog under the bed! He will bite me! Oh, dear! oh, dear! I shall die of hydrophobia. I shall be smothered in a feather-bed!" "A dog!" said the landlord. "A dog!" cried we all. "Aye, a black dog." "You don't say!" cried the singing master, springing from his bed. "Where is he? I'm able for _him_ any how." And seizing a corn broom that stood in a corner of the room, he began to poke at the poor animal, and belabour him in the most unmerciful manner. The dog, who belonged to a drover who penned his cattle in the inn-yard for the night, wishing to find a comfortable domicile, had taken a private survey of the premises when the people were out of the way, and made his quarters under Mr. Browne's bed. When that worthy commenced snoring, the dog, to signify his approbation at finding himself in the company of some one, amused himself by hoisting his tail up and down; now striking the sacking of the bed, and now tapping audibly against the floor. These mysterious salutations became, at length, so frequent and vehement that they awoke the sleeper, who, not daring to ascertain the cause of the alarm, aroused the whole house with his clamours. Mr. Browne finding himself unable to thrash the poor brute out of his retreat, and having become all of a sudden very brave, crawled under the bed and dragged the dog out by his hind legs. "You see I'm enough for him; give me the poker, and I'll beat out his brains." "You'll do no such thing, sir," said the landlord, turning the animal down the stairs. "The dog belongs to a quiet decent fellow, and a good customer, and he shall meet with no ill usage here. Your mountain, Mr. Browne, has brought forth a mouse." "A dog sir," quoth the singing master, not in the least abashed by the reproof. "If the brute had cut up such a dido under your bed, you would have been as 'turnal sceared as I was." "Perhaps, Mr. Browne," said I, "you took it for the ghost of the old mare?" "Ghost or no ghost," returned the landlord, "he has given us a great deal of trouble, and nearly frightened himself into fits." "The fear was not all on my side," said the indignant vocalist; "and I look upon you as the cause of the whole trouble." "As how?" "If the dog had not cum to your house, he never would have found his way under my bed. When I pay for my night's lodging, I don't expect to have to share it with a strange dog--no how." So saying he retreated, grumbling, back to his bed, and we gladly followed his example. I rose early in the morning to accompany my friends to W---. At the door of the hotel I was accosted by Mr. Browne-- "Why, you arn't goin' to start without bidding me good-bye? Besides, you have not paid me for my assistance at the _con-sort_." I literally started with surprise at this unexpected demand. "Do you expect a professional price for your services?"