MY DOG, SLOP. 231 



himself endowed with rare intelligence. He speedily 

 became as fond of sport as his master. I had him 

 under thorough command ; and in a very short time 

 he came to understand and obey my slightest wish. 

 To please me was evidently his greatest pleasure ; to 

 win my approval and caress, his greatest ambition ; 

 and to live with me and for me, he seemed to regard 

 as the final cause of his existence. I encouraged him 

 to swim, and no spaniel was ever a better water-dog. 

 He was pointer, retriever, friend, and companion all in 

 one. Once I had winged a duck of a rare species 

 flying over a small loch. Slop plunged in in pur- 

 suit ; but as often as he was about to seize the prey, 

 the duck dived. Time after time, this was repeated. 

 My last percussion-cap was expended, and I was 

 therefore terribly mortified at my helplessness. No- 

 thing for it but to trudge home several miles for 

 a fresh supply ; so ordering Slop ashore, I left him 

 in charge of my gun and shot-bag till my return. 

 I knew he would not leave the gun; and I was 

 pretty sure the duck would not dare to leave the 

 protection of the water while the dog was so near. 



On my way, it occurred to me how much more 

 convenient it would have been if I could have sent 

 Slop home for the caps. It might often be useful 

 to be able to send him home with a message ; and 

 I forthwith resolved to add another accomplishment 

 to the many he had already acquired. I began with 

 short distances — only a few hundred yards — ordering 

 him to go " home, home " (repeating the word " home "). 



