FOR YOUNG SHOOTERS 83 



it produces such men as these, and fosters their 

 staunch virtues. Think well of all this, my young 

 friend, and do not vex the harassed keeper with 

 idle and frivolous remarks. But you may permit 

 yourself to say to him, during the day, ' That's a 

 nice dog of yours ; works capitally.' 



' Yes, sir,' the keeper will say, ' he's not a bad 

 'un for a young 'un. Plenty of good blood in him. 

 His mother's old Dido. I've had to leave her at 

 home to-day, because she's got a sore foot ; but 

 her nose is something wonderful.' 



' Did you have much trouble breaking him ? ' 



' Lor' bless you, sir, no. He took to it like a 

 duck to the water. Nothing comes amiss to him. 

 You stand there, sir, and you'll get some nice birds 

 over you. They mostly breaks this way.' 



That kind of conversation establishes good 

 relations, always an important thing. Or you may 

 hint to him that he knows his business better than 

 the host, as thus : 



' I must have been in the wrong place that last 

 beat. Not a single bird came near me.' 



' Of course you were, sir. I knew how it would 

 be. I wanted you fifty yards higher up, but Mr. 

 Chalmers, he would have you here. Lor, I've 



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