CH. VII.] 



QUAILS TREEING. 



119 



in America : but this was the only instance I ever saw. But we 

 will now hark back to your pup, which, for your sake, I wish may 

 turn out as cautious a dog. 



201. You have been recommended invariably to enter 

 every field by the leeward side. This you can generally 

 accomplish with ease, if you commence your day's beat 

 to leeward. Should circumstances oblige you to enter 

 a field on the windward side, make it a rule, as long as 

 your dog continues a youngster, to call him to " heel," 

 and walk down the field with him until you get to the 

 opposite side (the leeward), then hunt him regularly 

 up to windward. 



202. I have read wondrous accounts of dogs, who, 

 without giving themselves the trouble of quartering 



ceived with such admirable ra- 

 pidity by the commanding officer 

 on an occasion of great emergency, 

 and executed with such wonderful 

 celerity by the troops under him, 

 that I hope my professional par- 

 tialities will be allowed to excuse 

 my describing it. 



Bermuda, " the blest little 

 island," as the fascinating Tommy 

 Moore styles her, although now 

 well supplied with all the neces- 

 saries of life, especially since the 

 improvements in husbandry, in- 

 troduced by its late excellent go- 

 vernor, Colonel R d (now Sir 



William), was formerly but little 

 better provided with fresh meat 

 than a man-of-war victualled for 

 a six months' cruise. At the time 

 I allude to there were but few 

 cows, and only one bull on the 

 islands ; and what made matters 

 more disagreeable, it had been 

 slanderously reported of the strange 

 beast that " he was an awfully 

 vicious animal." It is certain 

 that he bellowed fearfully. The 

 inhabitants (who have always 

 been highly esteemed by those 

 who know them) though they 

 were not at that period as well 



fed with the roast beef of old 

 England as when I was recently 

 quartered among them, were, not- 

 withstanding, a right loyal set, 

 and prided themselvesgreatly upon 

 their efficient militia. On a hot 

 day, as are most of their days, 

 when these good soldiers were at 

 drill under their esteemed com- 

 mander let us say, Col. e, 



a breathless messenger ran up 

 to him as he was mounted on his 

 grey charger in front of the steady 

 Tine, and uttered some mysterious 

 words. The gallant colonel's coun- 

 tenance assumed a look of deep 

 anxiety, for an instant his cheek 

 blanched, his lip quivered : 

 but quickly rallying, he abandoned 

 his horse, and with infinite pre- 

 sence of mind, gave in unfaltering 

 accents the order, " Gentlemen, 

 tree yourselves, Moll Burgess's 

 Bull is loose." Precept and ex- 

 ample were here happily com- 

 bined, and the able commander 

 was among the first to find safety 

 in the topmost branches of a 

 neighbouring cedar. Military 

 annals record no instance of more 

 prompt, zealous obedience. 



