8 FACT AGAINST FICTION. 



is frio'litenecl with the united roars of a dozen or 

 more of men, all of Avhom shout the word '^ mark," 

 although they well know that there are men told 

 off at stations in different hedges to do the very 

 thing without noise that they so vociferously shout 

 about. When once you enter a turnip-field^ and 

 by so doing have to some slight extent elicited the 

 notice of game, the worst thing you can do, with a 

 view to sport, is to stand still, and give the birds time 

 to think and run. Then, if that injurious pause is 

 accompanied by human voice or whistle, the game 

 is, indeed, up, for the coveys get to their legs and 

 then fly away. 



I neither talk nor whistle to my setters when 

 they are at work ; they know their duty and I know 

 them. To uphold my hand is caution enough, and 

 a short, sharp ^^Ho!" is ample to stop one setter 

 if the other has come to a point unseen by his 

 ranging companion. They are perfectly steady 

 from the chase of hare or rabbit ; yet if I see and 

 feel quite sure that a hare or rabbit is seriously 

 stricken^ I bid them to ^^scek dead,'' and I have 

 known them foot at three parts speed a liare for 

 half a mile and bring her back, each having a light 

 hold of her in their so united mouths. The next 



