THE ANGLER AND HUNTSMAN 167 



We adjust our guns, the dogs are loosed, and everything 

 is made ready to begin the hunt. 



The four dogs are experts two of them being pointers 

 and two setters. They have hunted these fields before- 

 last season hence we term them old veterans, which they 

 are indeed, not only because of much service, but because of 

 their tried and proven ability as bird dogs. We can depend 

 upon their efforts to produce results, if there are any birds 

 in the stubble-fields or clover-fields hereabout at all. 



They are slow and cautious workers, which are to be 

 preferred by most hunters to the swift and harum-scarum 

 sort that are liable to burst right into a covey of quail head- 

 long and flush them all before the sportsmen can get within 

 shooting distance. It is a strange commentary, however, 

 that not a few hunters like just such dogs. Generally ner- 

 vous men are these, who have not the patience to hunt slow- 

 ly behind slow and painstaking dogs. 



Presently, the dogs make a stand. Blake's Sportzell, 

 a setter of noble breeding, is on point as steady and true 

 as Gibraltar's Bock Topsy, a pointer of high standing, is 

 backing. It is a picture fit for a king to gaze upon. We 

 sigh for our kodak, unfortunately left behind. It is ever 

 thus just at the precise moment when the dogs are pulling 

 off a stand that would look well in a frame hung on the wall 

 of one's den, the camera was left at home. Cruel fate! 



My partner slowly approaches the dogs, commanding, 

 "Steady!" This command was only a matter of form; no 

 command of any kind was needed, for these dogs were 

 thoroughly trained and knew their business quite as well as 

 anybody. 



At the opportune moment, after we had taken up ad- 

 vantageous positions for shooting, the birds were flushed, 

 and, exploding like a trench mortar, or a Russian bomb, 

 they left the earth for parts unknown. 



Bang! bang! bang! spoke our repeating shotguns, and 

 six of the flock fell to rise no more. 



