SOME RECOLLECTIONS OF THE TWELFTH 157 



might serve as a syren to wake the echoes on some fog- 

 enveloped coast, endeavours to induce them to hunt 

 the same grounds as his master, but in vain. That 

 keeper is too late. The Twelfth of August is not the 

 time for breaking dogs. 



There are, however, dogs (whether born or made) 

 which realise the aim and the art of killing game. These 

 understand that their first business is to assist their 

 master to find it ; but they look to him for directions as 

 to the best methods of doing so. Constant touch is thus 

 maintained between dog and man. Dogs know when 

 their work is critically and appreciatively watched, and 

 when each touch on scent is at once observed and backed 

 up by their master. They know, moreover, when it is 

 not so. Thus such dogs become attentive to — indeed 

 watching for — every signal by hand, say to hold wider 

 out, to change course, to back another that is not in 

 their sight, to pay special attention to likely bits, and 

 so on. They will seldom hunt long out of sight, even 

 when in hollows or irregular ground where one can only 

 see a short distance. They instinctively take advantage 

 of the wind, so that the sportsman can hunt practically 

 in any direction, regardless of its airt. By spending near 

 half his time walking away to leeward, so as to "give his 

 dogs the wind " on the return-cast, a man evidences lack 

 of grasp of the hunter's craft since he is depriving canine 

 instinct of half its scope and value. Good dogs, in short, 

 well handled, are utilising to the full every canine instinct 

 and faculty in co-operation with their master's directing 

 capacity, and in precise ratio therewith. 



As already mentioned, the wildest grouse in August 

 can be dominated by persistent following. But, when 

 once broken and partially demoralised, they are apt to lie, 



