CHAPTER XXVIII. 



GROUSE-SHOOTING. 



THE eternal controversy between dogs and no dogs, 

 walking up game and driving it, returns each year 

 with the shooting season. I confess that I myself 

 bring an open mind to bear upon the question. I 

 believe that each and every method of shooting has a 

 charm of its own. While driving demands greater 

 skill behind the gun, and is in itself beneficial to the 

 head of game maintained, inasmuch as the old and 

 cunning cock-birds fall the first victims, the pleasure of 

 seeing dogs work is to me very great. What prettier 

 sight can there be than to see a brace of well-broken 

 pointers or setters, one standing motionless as if carved 

 in stone, while the other, half-a-dozen yards behind, 

 " backs " his comrade's point ? Unless it is that one, 

 which I confess I have never seen, but which older 

 men have described to me, of half-a-dozen black-and- 

 tan spaniels working together, and all dropping to the 

 shot. No such team of spaniels, I venture to say, 

 could be found in England to-day more's the pity. 



The controversy rages most briskly, perhaps, about 

 grouse-shooting, and no wonder, for it is delightful 

 sport both ways. 



