[ Fenn / Quicksilver, or The Boy with No Skid to His Wheel ]
George Manville Fenn (1831 - 1909) was an English writer — extremely prolific; it was nothing for him to write 3 or 4 novels a year — of novels, plays, and journalism. Many of his works were adventure stories for younger readers, which is the case with Quicksilver, a novel about a young boy with a very great zest for adventure (and not a little mischief).
Quicksilver was first published in 1899 (Blackie, London).
The only mention of Newfoundlands in this work is metaphorical, and occurs when 2 boys are in a rowboat, fleeing from a pursuer:
Then he began to row, putting the little strength he had left into his last strokes.
"Ah, it's no good," cried the man triumphantly. "I've got yer at last."
"How—ow!" yelled Bob, with a cry like a Newfoundland dog shut out on a
cold night.
"Drop that there rowing, or I'll--"