260 TEN YEARS OF GAME-KEEPING 



was to be shot ; he was in good health, but had 

 become objectionable indoors. I had to leave my 

 old dog while I arranged his passing. So much 

 better was she that as I moved to leave her she 

 raised her head, and looked at me, as much as 

 to say, ' I can't come with you ; come back soon/ 

 But in death they were not divided, for when I 

 returned she, too, was dead. 



Once, some years before, I thought this old dog 

 had gone suddenly mad. She was kennelled for 

 the time being in a shed, to which I went to release 

 her. No sooner had I undone her chain than she 

 rushed past me, and tore all over the place, howling. 

 I called her by name, but she took not the slightest 

 notice, and continued to rush about, howling and 

 barking and showing her teeth in the most alarming 

 manner. I was thinking how best to get at my gun 

 before she did any damage, when quite suddenly 

 she recovered her senses. How glad I felt that I 

 had not my gun with me when I unchained her ! 

 This is what had happened whenever she heard 

 me coming she would start wagging her tail 

 energetically, and on this occasion she had set 

 rolling half a paraffin barrel, which was in her shed. 

 The iron-bound edge of the barrel had nipped her 

 tail, causing c funny-bone ' pain. This I proved by 

 feeling her all over till I touched the spot. The 

 mysterious part of the affair was that she was per- 

 fectly all right while I was in the act of releasing 



