228 THE ADMIRAL'S PLAN. [CH. xm. 



390. A full admiral (Sir H n S d), as well known in the 



field as in the ballroom, and whose exhilarating society is coveted 

 alike by young and old, had many years ago a valuable retriever 

 named " Lion," bred between a setter and a Newfoundland, fast and 

 high-couraged, but which had not been properly trained. 



His condemnation had been pronounced by his owner, the late 



Sir J s D n H y, in the hearing of the admiral, who at 



once asked for and obtained the dog. Sir J s' keeper (P n) 



had put a ring upon one of the animal's fore feet to prevent his 

 travelling too fast. This the admiral immediately removed, and by 

 making " Lion " his companion, and feeding him himself, he soon 

 brought him into tolerable obedience, but he had the vexation of 

 finding that the retriever always showed a great longing to chase 

 sheep, and more than once had pulled one down in spite of all 

 threats and admonitions. 



One fine summer's morning the cheery admiral, who is an excel- 

 lent piscator, had started at sunrise across the moors to fish a dis- 

 tant loch. " Lion " quietly followed behind the dog-cart, but on 

 getting sight of some sheep he started off and overturned one. 



The admiral hurried up in time to save its life. Although alone, 

 he managed to tie its legs securely together. Ditto " Lion's," and 

 then he laid the two helpless animals nearly side by side. With 

 his driving-whip he belaboured "Lion" most severely, endeavouring 

 to make him comprehend why he was punished, and in the intervals 

 of the flagellation caressing the poor sheep. 



This occurred about 6 A.M. and the admiral did not return to his 

 captives until the same hour in the evening. After repeating his 

 powerful admonitions he released both the animals, determined to 

 give up the dog as incorrigible should he ever repeat the offence, 

 but he never did. He turned out an admirable retriever, and a 

 faithful, attached friend. He seemed ever after ashamed to look a 

 sheep in the face. On catching sight of one, he would slink to 

 heel. 



Be assured that the truly gallant admiral's is an excellent recipe for 

 giving a dog a higher relish for cooked than for uncooked mutton. 



pose they were to do so, I am pre- him head over heels, haul him up, 



pared, for I have him in a cord and getting hold of him, give him a 



some twenty yards long. This second thrashing a lesson or two 



length gives him something of a more, and he, in nine cases in ten, 



feeling of liberty. If he looks will be broken of the habit. But 



towards the flock, ' Ware sheep ' if without the cord to check him 



reminds him of his lessons. In he had got in full career, flaying 



a day or two I approach them ; the poor brute alive would not 



they begin to run : Don gets have prevented his doing it again ; 



fidgety, but the warning and show- but his propensity having been 



ing him the whip most probably diminished gradually, moderate 



controls him ; if it does not, and reflection will reform him, which 



he breaks away, I let him reach it would not have done while that 



the elid of the cord, and with a propensity was in full force." 



stentorian 'Ware sheep,' I pull Page 171. 



