Sketches in the East and West 271 



This time the hand went straight up, warningly, 

 and Hicks took a backing position. 



" Never let your dog make a mistake, and he 

 won't make one," said the doctor. That sounded 

 reasonable and called for no remarks. 



Guns ready, we walked up to Bob's point. 



" You do the shooting. I want to be sure on 

 the jump that the dogs don't get any foolishness 

 into their heads. Walk ahead of the dog." 



With the nervousness which a poor shot can't 

 help feeling in the presence of a master, I flushed 

 the birds ; and of course shot too soon. I had a 

 choke-bore gun, then new in fashion and over- 

 choked for quail. But I hit a bird and saw 

 something fall. 



Like the dogs, I was not going to take any 

 liberties with the doctor, and waited for orders. 



" Bob ! dead ; fetch." Bob followed the point- 

 ing finger and came to the fallen bird. But he 

 did not pick it up. He looked and then looked 

 again. He turned to the doctor for light on the 

 subject. 



" What's the matter ? " The doctor went up 

 to examine before rating the dog for disobedience. 

 He laughed. 



" Well, that was a centre. Come here." 



The load from my choke-bore had struck the 

 bird a shade high and along the back, tearing it 

 into a mangled strip a foot long. 



