CHAPTER FOURTEEN ON DOGS 



precision, up to the place where the deer had dropped, or 

 had concealed himself; appearing too to be acting more for 

 the benefit of his master, and to show the game, than for his 

 own amusement. I have no doubt that a clever Skyeterrier 

 would in many cases get the sportsman a second shot at a 

 wounded deer with more certainty than almost any other 

 kind of dog. Indeed, for this kind of work, a quiet though 

 slowdog oftenisof more use than the best deer-hound. I at 

 one time had an English bulldog, whoaccompaniedme con- 

 stantly in deer-stalking; he learned to crouch and creep up 

 to the deer with me, never showing himself, and seemingly 

 to understand perfectly what I wished him to do. When 

 necessary I could leave him for hours together, lying alone 

 on the hill, when he would never stir till called by me. If a 

 deer was wounded, he would follow the track with untirine 

 perseverance, distinguishing the scent of the wounded ani- 

 mal, and singling it out from the rest, never making a mis- 

 take in this respect; he would also follow the stag till he 

 brought him to bay, when, with great address in avoiding 

 the horns, he would rush in and seize him either by the throat 

 orthe ear, holdingon till I cameup,or,asheoncedid, strang- 

 ling the animal, and then coming back to show me where 

 he had left it. 



In driving some woods one day in Ross-shire, a fine stag 

 broke into a wide opening; two or three sportsmen were 

 stationed at some distance above me; as the deer passed, I 

 saw thelightpuff of smoke, and heard thecrackof their rifles 

 as they fired. At every shot the poor animal doubled with 

 the most extraordinary bounds; he tried to turn back to the 

 cover from which he had been driven, but the shouts of the 

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