113 



prevent his getting on faster than either his nose 

 or his recollection can possibly serve him : or, 

 better still, to give him the cross-log; i.e. a 

 considerable portion of a decent-sized hedge- 

 stake, slung in balance by the middle from a 

 swivel on his collar*; the perpetual admonitions 

 of which, upon his shins, will have no small 

 effect in bringing him to hear reason ; and with 

 which, if need be, you may turn him for an hour 

 into a twenty acre piece of such ground as we 

 have now before us, and let him try what he can 

 make of it. I am only dropping this as a hint, 

 because I may not again have an opportunity 

 to touch upon the subject of such expedients 

 as may be necessary with a dog of high courage, 

 in order to bring down the tone of his resolution 

 within listening compass : but it must be recol- 

 lected, that it is to be employed only as the 

 means of acquiring an ascendency, which it 

 must be your strenuous endeavour to improve, 

 upon ground where he can more clearly read 

 his lesson, into decisive command ; for it may 

 be relied on as a maxim, that if you hold him 

 not by a sense of obedience, rather than a sense 



* The proper cross-log (not quite so convenient to take 

 into the field), is a common log of light weight, slung by a 

 swivel from the collar, so as not to touch the ground, with 

 four sticks about six inches lonjr, projecting at right angles to 

 each other, ready to strike his leg a little above the knee. 



I 



