THE AMERICAN GORDON SETTER. 95 



Railway, for a three- weeks absence, which gave us about 

 twelve days shooting. We took our tent and a full camp- 

 ing outfit. In the way of dogs, we had Irish and English 

 Setters, one black Pointer, and one lemon-and-white 

 Pointer. I had my brace of Gordons, Malcolm and June. 

 We were on the road three days and nights, and arrived at 

 our destination at three A. M. 



My friends all retired for a few hours rest, but I remained 

 up and made arrangements with a liveryman to be at the 

 hotel at peep of day. When he arrived, myself and two dogs 

 boarded, and were soon tucked in the straw at the bottom 

 of the wagon, my friends preferring to breakfast, and follow 

 later. In an hour we reached a nice-looking stubble-field. I 

 ordered a halt, and alighted, the dogs following suit. They 

 were ordered on. June had been on chickens before, but Mal- 

 colm had not. In about ten minutes, I saw them both make 

 game, and in a moment draw on and make a fine point. 1 

 flushed and killed a brace, and in little over an hour had 

 ten chickens, all killed over points to these two dogs; and 

 they had not made an error. It is needless to say that after 

 such a journey, and such a performance, I was justly proud 

 of my pets. This has been my experience with my Gor- 

 dons every year. On woodcock, snipe, quail, or ruffed 

 grouse, I have found them always reliable, stanch, and 

 obedient. 



I have hunted them in several States, over hill and dale, 

 through brier-patches and in dense forest in fact, wher- 

 ever the birds would seek refuge; and never yet have I seen 

 them flurried in the least. They are in appearance and in 

 nature the gentleman's dog, both to shoot over and as a 

 companion at his home. They are of the most affectionate 

 disposition to home folks, but are watchful when a stranger 

 is about. 



On one occasion, in Caroline County, Virginia, in 1878, I 

 had arrived home and dressed for supper, after a hard day's 

 tramp, in the month of December. My room had an open 

 wood fire. My dogs were spread out in front of it. I 

 closed my door and went down to supper. A gentleman 



