37 



him, and shall command the shot : patience, 

 now ! his head keeps still straining to his left, 

 his stern bristles, his eyes start, and his lips 

 quiver in convulsion; "TAKE HEED, good dog!" 

 he has them close ; ha ! from your left there 

 steals up the old cock : hold ! it is not his 

 bird ; reserve your fire : confound him not ; but 

 head him to your right : he moves, turns, stops, 

 draws : they are on the run, and up rises the 

 whole brood : the centre bird ; mark ! it mounts 

 well to level ; cool and steady ! now ; let it take 

 its distance ; and 'tis well ! your shot was, as 

 it ought to be, decisive, and the bird is down. 



Now, Sir, I have you to break, as well as 

 your companion there. Stand stock still ; look 

 to your dog : it is probable that, from the alarm 

 of the gun, he will stop a little ; challenge him 

 instantly with the important note of " DOWN 

 CHARGE !" loud and fierce : I hope that a dash 

 at the bird, in his present state of ignorance, is 

 a vice that he has yet to learn : if not, down 

 with your gun, for you may injure it in the 

 exertion, and I want both your hands at liberty: 

 run to him ; disengage the bird, but do not tear 

 it from him ; let him yield it to your threat, 

 or to its instant explanation by a tremendous 

 cut from the implement of authority, and leave 



