238 A DOG EMPLOYED 



LETTER XXVIII. 



FROM CAROLINE TO EMILY. 



MY DEAREST EMILY, 



You who take so gi'eat an interest in every 

 thing that relates to sporting should have been with 

 us yesterday. We went to visit a salmon fishery, 

 but a water-dog entertained us more than the capture 

 of the fish. As soon as he perceived the men were 

 preparing to cast the net, he instantly ran down the 

 river of his own accord, and took his post in the 

 middle of it on some shallows, where he could run or 

 swim as occasion required; and in this position he 

 placed himself with all the eagerness and attention 

 so strongly marked in a pointer-dog who sets his 

 game. For some time, I was at a loss to comprehend 

 his design, but the event soon satisfied me, and com- 

 pletely justified the prudence of the animal ; for the 

 fish, when they feel the net, always endeavour to 

 make directly out to sea. Accordingly, one of the 

 salmon escaping from the net, rushed down the stream 

 with great velocity towards the ford, where the dog 

 stood to receive him at an advantage. A very divert- 

 ing chase now commenced, in which, from the shallow- 



