THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 113 



strayed from his servant, and the sire was 

 a celebrated dog in the Duke of Welling- 

 ton's kennel at Strathfieldsaye. It turned 

 out, as he suspected, that this pup I had 

 so accidentally stumbled upon was one of 

 his old bitch's htter. He had repeatedly 

 refused sixty guineas for the mother ; 

 and notwithstanding our united exertions, 

 and offers of tempting rewards, she never 

 was recovered. 



I thus fortunately became possessed of 

 one of the best-bred dogs England could 

 produce. This occurred in the month of 

 August ; and as an instance of the innate 

 excellence of this highly gifted animal, 

 on taking her out in the first week of 

 September, although not seven months 

 old, she found, backed, and stood as well 

 as if she had been trained to the work for 

 as many years. 



On the first day I shot partridges to 

 her, as she was bringing me a dead bird, 



