2i6 WILD-FOWL AND SEA-FOWL OF GREAT BRITAIN 



Go an' keep the missus an' the young 'uns comp'ny. 

 Look at her. Damned if she ain't goin' tu cry just 

 because I must leave her at home." 



I knew Luce, short for Lucy, well, I have heard 

 her bay out her deep bell-like tones, as she would 

 challenge at rare intervals a strange footstep pass- 

 ing by the looker's house, for she was a good house 

 guard. 



" A better crittur 'an Luce was never whelped," 

 her master has told us over and over again. " She'll 

 find fur ye anything — woodcocks, snipes, fowl, hares, 

 an' rabbits, an' bring 'em to ye ; it don't matter 

 where they drops or gits tu. An' she ken swim an' 

 dive like any otter." This was high praise, but the 

 dog deserved it all. 



One day he remarked — "There's a Teal in the 

 reed-splash o' sum sort, cricket (Garganey) or 

 green-winged 'un (Common Teal). Hi, Luce gal, 

 cum along." 



She did not want telling, she was quite ready. 

 Her master just indicated the reed-splash, and off 

 she trotted a little way in front of us, turning her 

 head from time to time to see if we were keeping 

 close. As the splash was neared, she made a dead 

 stop until her master had posted himself with his 

 gun, and then she glided into the tangle of the 

 splash. Now and then the reed-tassels would 

 move as she quietly passed through, but not even 

 a Tit showed itself above them ; her quiet move- 

 ments alarmed nothing. 



Presently four or five tassels moved, bowed down, 



