THE SPORTSMAN'S VADE MECUM. 33 



he is touched lift him up, if necessary, lead him abouc, 

 again cry " down," and check him until he falls instantly at 

 the word. This will do for lesson No. 2. The next day 

 commence at the beginning, following up with lesson 2, mak- 

 ing him steady at each. Before proceeding to the next step, 

 release the one end of the cord from the peg, take it in your 

 hand, cry " down ;" if he goes down, well ; if not, check him, 

 pat him, loose the end of cord in the hand, let him run 

 about, occasionally crying "down," sometimes when he is 

 close at hand, at other times further off, visiting any disobe- 

 dience with a check, until he will drop at the word any- 

 where immediately. At these times his lesson may last for 

 an hour twice a day. He will get steady v more quickly and 

 better. 



QUARTERING. 



His next step is to learn to quarter his ground thoroughly 

 and properly. It is the most difficult to teach, and requires 

 more care and ability, than any other part of his acquire- 

 ments, on the part of the preceptor. For this purpose select 

 a moderately sized field, say one hundred or two hundred 

 yards wide, where you are certain there is no game. Cast him 

 off at the word " hold up" to the right or left, up wind. 

 This is essential, to prevent their turning inwards, and so 

 going over the same ground twice. (I forgot to say that a 

 cord fifteen feet is long enough now ; it does not impede his 

 ranging, and he is nearly as much at command with it as 

 with one twice as long.) If a dog is inclined to this fault of 



turning inwards, you must get before him up wind, and 



2* 



