276 A UTHOR'S LA VERA CK SETTERS 



power on earth would induce them to spring a bird. 

 I bought these dogs ready broken, having been told 

 by the keeper who trained them how good they were. 

 I got the brace for twenty-five guineas, and they 

 turned out worth a hundred and fifty, at the lowest 

 computation. The keeper came into my service about 

 that time and worked them to perfection, but they re- 

 quired no help from me, and I never owned any dogs 

 which were more speedy, and yet thoroughly steady, 

 on o-rouse, or which could glide through turnips as 

 they could. I have often seen them turn over on a 

 turnip when coming suddenly to a side point ; they 

 were wonderfully swift and yet silent in their move- 

 ments. It was often a matter of surprise to me, 

 how they managed to move so fast through turnips 

 and yet to lift their feet so stealthily as to make no 

 noise at all ; now and then a turnip might turn up, or 

 a leaf be sent flying, but there was no rough and 

 tumble, heavy, clodding going, and I have known a 

 couple of hares when running across turnips make 

 infinitely more noise. It was a sight to be remem- 

 bered to watch them when roading partridges in a 

 grass field, which would not lie, but ran to the end of 

 the cover all over the field. When partridges so 

 behave they are almost sure to rise out of shot over 

 the hedge. I could generally tell what to expect by 

 the pace these dogs tried to work on the guns, and 

 the instant the latter came up to them they would road 

 after the birds rapidly but surely, and without ever 

 running any risk of springing them. 



