96 The Gamekeeper at Ho7ne. 



though broad, the fish were of course distinctly visible, 

 and at once became an object of the most intense 

 interest to the pointer. She would not leave it ; but 

 stood watching every motion of the fish, with her 

 head now on one side now on the other. There she 

 must have remained some hours, and was found at 

 last in the act of removing them one by one and 

 laying them softly, quite unhurt, on the grass. 



I put them back into the water, and waited to see 

 the result. She took a good look, and then plunged 

 her nose right under the surface and half-way up the 

 neck completely submerging the head, and in that 

 position groped about on the bottom till a fish came in 

 contact with her mouth and was instantly snatched 

 out. Her head must have been under water each time 

 nearly a minute, feeling for the fish. One by one she 

 drew them out and placed them on the ground, till 

 only the jack remained. He puzzled her, darting 

 away swift as an arrow and seeming to anticipate the 

 enemy. But after a time he, too, was captured. 



They were not injured — not the mark of a tooth 

 was to be seen — and swam as freely as ever when re- 

 stored to the water. So soon as they were put in again 

 the pointer recommenced her fishing, and could hardly 

 be got away by force. The fish were purposely left 

 in the tub. The next day she returned to the amuse- 



