Duck-shooting in JVetmland, S-iveden. 6^ 



all." So it was with the poor ducks — they could not even 

 walk away from Sutt, A^ho, I am certain, I have seen 

 chase a mallard for an English mile, and bring it back alive to 

 me. I fancy, if Savage sees this, he will say, " Well, if I had 

 known how she would be used, I should have thought twice before 

 I sent such a dog over there 5" and I must confess I began to won- 

 der myself how it would be \^'hen the snipe season came on, and I 

 wanted her to hunt within shot. But as soon as ever the birds 

 became strong flyers, and the snipe came down, she forgot all these 

 tricks, and settled down to one of the steadiest dogs I ever shot 

 over, and never ranged out of shot. It was a real treat to see her 

 huggle up a rail or a httle bothering jack out of a bit of thick grass ; 

 and she retrieved so tenderly, that I never saw her rumple a feather, 

 except the first lark I shot to her when I tried her. I suppose this 

 was new to her, for she mauled it terribly, and I began to fear she 

 was hard-mouthed, but she soon proved the contrar}^. She became 

 quite a noted character round here, and I am certain I could have 

 shot over half Wermland only for the sake of my dog. I once 

 recollect coming down Fleet Street, when I was accosted by a cork- 

 screw-curled gipsy-looking fellow, carrying a pretty little Skye 

 terrier, who asked me if I wanted to buy '' a nice little toy tarrier 

 dawg," adding, as a recommendation, **^ sweet as a nut — clean in 

 the 'ouse, and wonderful tricky.'' And I soon found out that this 

 was the case with my new retriever. I soon taught her to do 

 almost anything — fetch a cap off a person's head in a moment, if I 

 only pointed to it, drop my powder-flask in the reeds and send her 

 back for it 3 hide my handkerchief in a room full of people (often 

 in another person's pocket), and set her to find it 3 all which, and a 

 dozen other such tricks, made her a general favourite, but on two 

 occasions nearly brought me into serious disgrace. On one occasion, 

 in a httle party was an old gentleman who wore a skull-cap, as old 

 gentlemen often do here. Sutt was in the room. The old gentle- 

 man was leaning back in a chair, talking to a friend. I had occa- 

 sion to cross the room by the back of his chair, and in so doing laid 

 Qiy hand on his shoulder. Whether Sutt took this as a signal or 



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