80 GAMEKEEPERS AND GILLIES 



cultural land in Galloway is broken by rocky knowes, 

 rough with grass, whin, and fern ; strips and patches of 

 corn stubble or green crop wind in a labyrinthine manner 

 among shreds of the primitive surface, and these surround- 

 ings greatly enhanced the charm of a point. A dog might 

 be racing along the crest of one of these knowes, when, 

 presto ! he stopped as if smitten by a spell. Not a word 

 from John! just a lifted hand to warn the other dogs 

 which might not have viewed their comrade. Then was 

 seen the charming group of which modern sportsmen can 

 have so little experience : the dog that found the game, 

 holding the point; the others backing to him with eager, 

 anxious countenances, in every variety of statuesque atti- 

 tude. So perfect was the discipline of these animals that 

 John Pace had not the slightest difficulty, nor, it may be 

 added, remorse, in beckoning up one of the backing dogs 

 to take the point from the legitimate finder, who obediently 

 fell back to the second place. But it would have moved 

 the stoniest heart to mark the pleading in the displaced 

 one's eyes. I have only to close my own eyes to revive 

 a scene enacted full forty years ago. On a wide, sunny 

 hillside, heather- clad and strewn with grey boulders, three 

 brace of shining pointers are ranging swift and far. Not 

 a word of guidance do they require ; just a note on the 

 whistle now and then, and a wave of John's hand, to 

 make them cover fresh ground. To and fro they race, 

 crossing each other's orbits, quartering every rood of 

 heather. Suddenly a liver-and- white bitch wavers in her 

 gallop, draws forward a few paces, and stands quivering. 

 All the other five dogs stand or crouch, then creep slowly 

 up in rear of her who has found the game. Such a study 

 of pose in these six high-bred creatures ! One after 



