Old Tricks 231 



A pheasant, too, as he ran deeper into the wood 

 upon an alarm, occasionally found his neck in a noose 

 suspended across his path. For rabbiting, the lurcher 

 was and is the dog of all others. He is as cunning 

 and wily in approaching his game as if he had a cross 

 of feline nature in his character. Other dogs trust to 

 speed ; but the lurcher steals on his prey without a 

 sound. He enters into the purpose of his master, and 

 if any one appears in sight remains quietly in the 

 hedge with the rabbit or leveret in his mouth till a 

 sign bids him approach. If half the stories told 

 of the docility and intelligence of the lurcher 

 are true, the poacher needs no other help than 

 one of these dogs for ground game. But the dogs 

 called lurchers nowadays are mostly of degenerate 

 and impure breed ; still, even these are capable of 

 a good deal. 



There is a way of fishing with rod and line, but 

 without a bait. The rod should be in one piece, or 

 else a stout one the line also very strong and short, 

 the hook of large size. When the fish is discovered 

 the hook is quietly dropped into the water and 

 allowed to float, in seeming, along, till close under it. 

 The rod is then jerked up, and the barb enters the 

 body of the fish and drags it out. 



This plan requires, of course, that the fish should be 



