66 IDLE DAYS IN PATAGONIA 



signed him! Was he to spend a paltry puppy 

 existence retrieving birds, first flushed by a stupid 

 pointer or setter, and shot by a man with a gun 

 the bird, after all, to be eaten by none of them; 

 and he, in return for his share in the work, to be 

 fed on mild messes and biscuits, and beef, killed 

 somewhere out of sight by a butcher? Away with 

 such a complex state of things ! He would not be 

 stifled by such an artificial system; he would kill 

 his own mutton on the moors, and eat it raw and 

 warm in the good old fashion, and enjoy life, as, 

 doubtless, every dog of spirit had enjoyed it a 

 thousand years ago ! 



This was not to be permitted on a well-conducted 

 estate; and as it was thought that chains and 

 slavery would be less endurable than death to a 

 dog of Major's spirit, to death he was forthwith 

 condemned. 



Now it happened that a gentleman, hearing all 

 this from the earl's gamekeeper, before the dread 

 sentence had been executed, all at once remem- 

 bered that one of his friends, who was preparing 

 to emigrate to Patagonia, purposed taking out 

 some good dogs with him, and thinking that this 

 retriever would form an acceptable gift, he begged 

 for it. The gamekeeper gave it to him, and he 

 in turn gave it to his friend, and in this way Ma- 

 jor escaped the penalty, and in due time, after 

 seeing and doubtless reflecting much by the way, 

 arrived at his destination. I say advisedly that 

 Major probably reflected a great deal, for in his 



