CH. x.] SIGNALS TO ATTENDANT. 167 



of the cord, and check him with a sudden jerk if you 

 are satisfied that game is before him and that he ought 

 to be pointing. If from his attitude and manner you 

 are positive that there is game, drive a spike (or peg) 

 into the ground, and tie the cord to it. I only hope the 

 birds will remain stationary. If they do, you can give 

 him a capital lesson by remaining patiently alongside of 

 him, and then heading him and the birds in the manner 

 before described (264, 265). 



282. As a general rule, an attendant or any companion 

 cannot be recommended, because he would be likely to 

 distract a young dog's attention (10) ; but an intelligent 

 fellow who would readily obey your signals, and not 

 presume to speak, would, doubtless, with a very wild 

 dog, be an advantageous substitute for the spike. You 

 could then employ a longer and slighter cord than usual, 

 and, on the man's getting hold of the end of it, be at 

 once free to head and awe the dog. Whenever you had 

 occasion to stand still, the man would, of course, be as 

 immoveable as yourself. 



Your signals to him might be : 



The gun held up, " Get near the clog." 

 Your fist clenched, " Seize the rope." 

 Your fist shaken, " Jerk the cord." 

 Your hand spread open, " Let go the cord." 



Or any signs you pleased, so that you understood each 



other without the necessity of speaking. 



283. Should it ever be your misfortune to have to 

 correct in a dog evil habits caused by past mismanage- 

 ment, such an attendant, if an active, observant fellow, 

 could give you valuable assistance, for he sometimes 

 would be able to seize the cord immediately the dog 

 began " feathering," and generally would have hold of 

 it before yoy could have occasion to fire. But the fault 



