72 BEN'S REFLECTIONS. [CH. IT. 



122. "Ben" had numerous excellent qualities, but his greatest 

 admirers, and few dogs had so many, were obliged to admit, that he 

 was of a quarrelsome, pugnacious disposition. It unluckily hap- 

 pened that he had taken a great dislike to a large cubbish young 



retriever belonging to the aforesaid Mr. B k, who often shot 



with K g ; and I am sorry to say none of " Ben's " prejudices 



were removed by the kindly fellowship and good feeling usually 

 engendered by association in field-sports. The day's work generally 

 commenced by " Ben's " making a rush at his big awkward com- 

 panion, and overturning him. After this feat, upon which he 

 evidently greatly plumed himself, he would proceed to business. It 

 happened that one of the sportsmen once knocked over a pheasant 

 which fell outside the hedge surrounding the copse they were beating. 

 It proved to be a runner ; " Ben," however, soon got hold of it, and 

 was carrying it to his master in the cover, when up came the other 

 dog wishing to assist. " Ben's " anger was roused, he was anxious 

 to punish such intrusive interference but how to manage it was 

 the question, for if he put down the winged bird it would run into 

 the wood, where there might be much trouble in recovering it. 

 Quick as thought, off ran " Ben" to the middle of the large ploughed 

 field, there he dropped the bird, then dashed at his lumbering 

 rival, quickly gave him a thrashing, and afterwards started in 

 pursuit of the pheasant, which he managed to overtake before it 

 regained the copse. If that was not refiection it was something 

 very like it. 



123. One more anecdote of poor " Ben." I say " poor," because 

 he died prematurely from a swelling under the throat which might, 

 in all probability, have been cured, had a long seton been run 

 through it, or rather under the adjacent skin, a mode of treatment 

 attended with the happiest results in the case of another dog 

 attacked in a similar manner in the same kennel. " Ben " and an 



old setter were K g's only canine attendants when he was once 



pheasant shooting with a friend on some steep banks. K g 



was at the bottom, his friend on the top. A cock pheasant was 

 sprung and winged by the latter. The bird not being immediately 

 found, there was the usual cry for " Ben." " Go along," said 



K g. Away went the dog, who soon took up the scent and 



dashed off, but had not gone many yards before he started a hare ; 



K g had soon an opening to fire, and wounded it. " Ben " 



pursued it, urged on by his master, who felt sure the dog would be 

 able to retrieve the pheasant afterwards. The hare was viewed 

 scrambling up the bank. " Ben " soon appeared in sight and caught 



it. K g's friend much abused poor " Ben " for quitting one 



scent for another. "Do not put yourself out of humour," said 



K g ; "you don't know the dog, wait till he comes back, and 



if he does not then get the bird, blame me." Having allowed 



" Ben " a little breathing time, K g took him to the place where 



the bird fell. The dog quickly hit off the scent. K g, now 



perfectly satisfied that all was right, made his friend sit down. In 

 little more than a quarter of an hour " Ben" came back with the bird 



