AMERICAN SHOOTING. 337 



along. He told me, in considerable mirth, when he 

 saw what was lying by me, that there were two or three 

 Americans firing away where I had heard them, but that 

 they had failed to bring a single bird to bag. On this I 

 bade him go back the same way he came, and tell them 

 at camp to get ready my dinner, and that I should soon 

 follow him. Having killed or knocked down another 

 fowl or two, I then gave a whistle for George, who came 

 up to carry home the game. We then consulted whether 

 it would be possible to induce Brutus to comprehend 

 that there yet was a dead mallard of the three killed at 

 one shot far out upon the lake, and I resolved to try. 

 Having spoken to the dog much as I would speak to a 

 man, that " Yes, there was another bird to fetch" I 

 signaled with my hand the direction in which I wished 

 him to go, and the retriever plunged in, and after swim 

 ming a long way, looked back at me. I gave by my 

 hand the signal of " on" " away," and Brutus obeyed, 

 till he caught a glimpse of the bird, and from an im 

 mense distance brought him proudly back to me, testify 

 ing his knowledge that he had reason to be proud, by 

 walking around me several times before he would give 

 the bird up. In returning to camp I met the settler 

 who had given me leave to go through his corn, and pre 

 sented him with a couple of ducks, when he very kindly 

 put an empty cabin at my service if I chose to prolong 

 my stay. Arrived at camp, I asked Mr Canterall if, 

 with the day before him, he had got any milk, eggs, and 

 butter, and received as usual the mendacious assurance 

 that " he had tried in vain." 



While I was at dinner, with my fifteen head of beauti 

 ful and varied fowl, as well as quail, slung on a cord from 



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