The animal at once sprang out.
Reuben made a rush, but he was not quick enough, and the dog caught him by the leg.

Reuben shouted, and the coachman ran out and, seizing a fork, struck the dog and compelled him to loose his hold.
"Has he bit you badly, Reuben ?" "Well, he has bit precious hard," Reuben replied.

"I think he has nearly taken a piece out of my calf," as, on pulling up his trousers, he showed his leg streaming with blood.
"Put it under the pump, lad.

I will pump on it," the coachman said.
"He's a bad-tempered brute, and I wonder the squire keeps it." "The brute ought to be killed," Reuben grumbled angrily.

"I have never teased it or worried it, in any way.