A gentleman who lived near Stirling, possessed a powerful mastiff. One
evening, as he was going his rounds through the grounds, he observed a
man with a sack on his back suspiciously proceeding towards the orchard.
The dog followed, crouching down while the man filled his sack with
apples. The dog waited till the thief had thrown the heavy sack over
his shoulders, holding on to the mouth with both hands. When the man
was thus unable to defend himself, the dog rushed forward and stood in
front of him, barking loudly for assistance, and leaving him the option
of dropping his plunder and fighting for life and liberty, or of being
captured. Paralysed with fear, he stood still, till the servants coming
from the house made him prisoner.
Be calm and cool in the face of a foe--remonstrate with a wrong-doer--
fly from tempters; but you cannot be too eager and violent in attacking
temptation immediately it presents itself.