300 UPLAND SHOOTING. 



exercised in the corn-fields, and while in the stubble his 

 tail waved from side to side, as an invitation for us to 

 follow him. When he entered the corn-fields, so brittle 

 from sun and frost, he knew that an incautious move- 

 ment might spoil all, and he would trot stealthily between 

 the rows, with head held high to catch the faintest scent, 

 his tail drooping and immovable, for he knew that his 

 swinging tail would rattle the stalks and frighten the 

 birds. Dear old boy, how I remember his actions, his 

 looks, his caution! and how quietly he glided through 

 the fields, never touching the fallen stalks, but stepping 

 over them, and trotting around a fallen or tangled bunch. 

 At times, he would be out of sight; but no fear of him. 

 I have known him strike a trail of the birds, follow them, 

 then return to us after having been long hidden from our 

 view, then start out again, and come to the staunchest 

 point at a bird one ' would suppose within thirty feet of 

 us; this was only a ruse on his part to attract our atten- 

 tion, to warn us to be on the lookout, for I never saw him 

 make a bonafide point in the late corn-field. After having 

 warned us, he would carefully and cautiously lead us, at 

 times hundreds of yards, through the fields, then stop, 

 and almost crawl on his belly to us. It was wonderful 

 the human wisdom he possessed, but lacked the power 

 of speech to tell; when he got to us, he would look into 

 our faces, as much as to say, "It's all right; I've got 

 them located." Then he would go back of us, perhaps 

 thirty yards, and making a wide detour, get the birds 

 between him and us; at this time, his great wisdom 

 showed itself, for he knew that the birds would run from 

 any noise, and if closely pressed, fly. After he had gotten 

 beyond the birds, knowing they would run or fly toward 

 us, he would rush toward them, running against the 

 stalks, and the racket he made flushed the birds, and we 

 always got quartering shots; at times, the birds flew 



