CH. ix.] MUST NOT BE IN A HURRY. 153 



right, at grouse. I was always aware when she first found, for her 

 attitudes were fine and marked, but, in defiance of all my signals, 

 and occasional calls, she would persist in creeping nearer, a proxi- 

 mity the grouse would not endure. As a violent jerk would not 

 have been necessary, often did I wish that day, whenever she ap- 

 proached a likely spot, that it was in my power to attach to her 

 collar a stiff thin checkcord about 100 yards long,* such a one as 

 would have been handed to me at a fishing-tackle shop on my 

 asking for a strong hemp salmon line, the kind used in former 

 days after being soaked for weeks in oil, now, however, considered 

 heavy and unmanageable. A mild spiked collar applied as described 

 in 302 to 304, would, I think, have noiselessly reclaimed her, with- 

 out injuring my shooting. 



263. But to resume our supposed lesson. You must 

 not be in a hurry keep your dog for some time for a 

 long time, where he should have pointed. You may 

 even sit down alongside him. Be patient; you have 

 not come out so much to shoot, as to break in your dog. 

 When at length you give him the wave of the hand to 

 hie him on to hunt, you must not part as enemies, 

 though I do not say he is to be caressed. He has com- 

 mitted a fault, and he is to be made sensible of it by 

 your altered manner. 



264. Suppose that, after two or three such errors, all 

 treated in the way described, he makes a satisfactory 

 point. Hold up your right hand, and the moment you 

 catch his eye, remain quite stationary, still keeping your 

 arm up. Dogs, as has been already observed, are very 

 imitative ; and your standing stock still will, more than 

 anything else, induce him to be patient and immovable 

 at his point. After a time (say five minutes if, from the 

 hour of the day and the dog's manner, you are convinced 

 that the birds are not stirring), endeavour to get up to 

 him so quietly as not to excite him to move. When- 

 ever you observe him inclined to advance, of which his 



* If painted white it will be the seizing it, or an ungloved hand 

 more readily seen and trodden on, may suffer should the dog be rang- 

 a step advisable preparatory to ing rapidly. 



