A SPORTING TRIP TO FRANCE. 245 



quail ; lie knew well the trail of the wounded 

 bird, and never left it until the bird was in his 

 mouth and laid at my feet. 



" There was a large swamp some little dis- 

 tance from my station, filled with snipes and 

 frequently with wild ducks ; I only took Triton, 

 who was here a complete master of his art, 

 picking his way and walking lightly ; when I 

 fired, his nose was in the air, and very seldom 

 did he rniss bringing me the dead bird. 



" I have had many valuable dogs in my pos- 

 session since that period, but none with such a 

 fine and delicate nose ; his natural intelligence 

 seemed to teach him all that was required. I 

 never lifted my hand to him except to caress 

 him, and he would look into my face for ap- 

 proval when he laid game at my feet. But for 

 his great size, and frequent desire for water, he 

 would have been an incomparable retriever ; so 

 I never took him far from home ; in fact, he 

 knew well when I was mounted, that his ser- 

 vices were not required for that day. 



" Triton was a great pet of the men of my 

 regiment, and seemed to understand perfectly 

 .his position. He would follow at my heels when 



