THE COMPLETE SHOT 



each working a brace of field trial winning setters at a time, 

 with frequent changes. The sound of the horn was indicative 

 of a point, and a long gallop had frequently to be taken to 

 get to it. When the beat is in progress, the horses usually 

 travel at a fox trot, or about six miles an hour. But even six 

 crack dogs proved none too many for sport, so scarce are 

 quail in some parts, and in this particular part they fairly 

 swarmed in comparison with much of the Frozen North. 



These high-couraged dogs that seem to take no hint from 

 their handlers, but to think entirely for themselves, nevertheless 

 have but to see their handler off his horse to take it for a 

 signal to quarter the ground closely for scattered quail, or to 

 hunt like a retriever for dead birds. Then upon the handler 

 mounting again, their natures seem to change upon the instant, 

 and they shoot off in a mighty hurry to make some cast that 

 they have had " in mind " probably all the time they have been 

 doing what is called " bird work," as tamely as and obediently 

 as any English field trialer. 



Some people look upon this riding to pointers and setters 

 as new, and think these dogs were never intended for any 

 such purpose. On the other hand, it appears probable that 

 they could not have invented their bird sense and sense of 

 locality, which are doubtless instinctive and hereditary. It is 

 the fashion to think our ancestors were slow in their move- 

 ments. So they were, no doubt, when they could not be quick, 

 but others besides Colonel Hawker knew the advantage of 

 bustling along after partridges by means of a shooting pony 

 and quick pointers ; and others besides Joe Manton have found 

 that " going slow " was not the royal road to success, nor butter- 

 milk as good for pointers as for points. It was not fair of the 

 Colonel to prepare certain failure by means of buttermilk. 

 Used in this way, the shooting pony in conjunction with 

 pointers and setters is not often seen now in England, but it 

 certainly was very common when the ridable portions of the 

 country were mostly shot by the assistance of those dogs. 

 It is probable, therefore, that this American form of shooting, 

 brought to perfection there by means of field trials, is really 



