WHEN the hen pecked Jock on the nose, she gave 

 a useful lesson in the art of finding out what you want 

 to know without getting into trouble. As he got 

 older, he also learned that there are only certain things 

 which concerned him and which it was necessary for 

 him to know. A young dog begins by thinking that 

 he can do everything, go everywhere, and know 

 everything ; and a hunting dog has to learn to mind 

 his own business, as well as to understand it. Some 

 dogs turn sulky or timid or stupid when they are 

 checked, but an intelligent dog with a stout heart 

 will learn little by little to leave other things alone, 

 and grow steadily keener on his own work. There 

 was no mistake about Jock's keenness. When I took 

 down the rifle from the waggon he did not go off into 

 ecstasies of barking, as most sporting dogs will do, 

 but would give a quick look up and with an eager little 

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