THE SOUND OF MULL. 481 



land. The pointer, whose aid he thought it useless to invoke, 

 watched the whole proceeding from the rocks, and thoroughly 

 comprehended it. Soon afterwards, on his master firing into a 

 flock of turnstones as they flitted past, and dropping three in 

 the water, he volunteered his unsought services, and brought 

 them one by one to the shore. Since then, although he never 

 attempts to mouth game on land, he duly recovers what falls 

 into the water, and in approaching wild-fowl is quite as care- 

 ful not to spoil the shot as most " thorough-broke " retrievers. 



About the beginning of February this useful creature died 

 of inflammation, most likely consequent on the change of his 

 profession. His master had again to do the work himself, and 

 the last day he was out the 7th of February had two long 

 swims after disabled widgeon, both of which he landed. 



For courage and devotion to his chief, this pointer might 

 have matched a " '45 " clansman ; but, like the old Highlander, 

 I once saw him show evident signs of superstition. When 

 ranging a grass-field, he pointed a hare, which soon moved 

 from her form, rearing herself on hind-legs straight as a small 

 gate-post. The dog at once showed evident signs of uneasi- 

 ness, by breaking his statuesque position, looking over his 

 shoulder for advice, and twitching his tail most nervously. 

 But when " puss," pursuing her advantage, actually paced ten 

 yards towards him, erect as a drill sergeant, he fairly turned 

 tail, and, with every sign of terror, took shelter behind his 

 master. There were several witnesses besides myself to this 

 reversal of nature viz., the hare pursuing the dog. Most 

 likely her young were near. 



2 H 



