THE AMERICAN SNIPE. 103 



drop to the charge unbidden; if they do not, raise thy 

 hand with an imperious gesture, and cry coolly and 

 calmly, " Down charge ! " but however ill they behave, 

 nay, even if they run in and eat thy bird, move not till 

 thy gun is loaded ; then calmly walk up to them, drag 

 them, pitilessly scourging them all the way, to the place 

 where they should have charged, and rate them in the 

 best of thy dog-language. I say " scourging them piti- 

 lessly" because that is in truth the merciful course ; for 

 so one or two whippings will suffice, instead of constant 

 small chastisements and irritation, which spoil a dog's 

 temper and break his spirit, without conquering his ob- 

 stinacy, or gaining the ascendancy over him. 



If, on the contrary, they charge as decent dogs should 

 and do charge, so soon as thy gun be loaded, lift them, 

 with a " Hold up, good lads 1" and cast them gently on- 

 ward, checking them with a " Steady, dogs ! " if they 

 show disposition to be rash, until they point the dead 

 bird, if killed, or draw on him, if running. Then, with a 

 " Toho ! Steady ! " walk to their point ; pick up the bird 

 under their noses, praising them the while, or bid them 

 " Fetch ! " according to the circumstances of the case ; 

 but if they retrieve the bird without pointing him, or 

 even after pointing him, until told to "fetch," let chas- 

 tisement not hide her head. 



This, rest assured, friend, is the way to do it. 



For the rest, whether thou wear fen-boots, or shoes and 

 trowsers, or, as I use, by deliberate preference, arch- 



