138 Next to the Ground 



High-Low had a white coat, satin smooth, 

 with big liver blotches, a deep brawny chest, 

 strong back, good legs and feet, and a perfect 

 nose. He had also a dashing, high-headed 

 way of going. It was beautiful to see him 

 quarter, covering the field in long zigzags, 

 nose to wind, tail up and lightly waving, 

 glancing now and again at the huntsmen, and 

 whipping from one side of them to the other 

 at the mere motion of the hand. Upon the 

 merest taint — as of a running covey fifty 

 yards away — he crept stealthily forward, until 

 he caught a full scent, then at once stood as 

 though carved from stone, often with one foot 

 poised in air, ready for the forward leap. He 

 would wait thus an hour, never moving, though 

 quivering through and through in the eager- 

 ness of sport, holding his point until the guns 

 came. When he heard Joe shout " Hie on ! " 

 he quivered stronger than ever — with joy this 

 time as he made a plunging leap. Then he 

 came to heel hardly waiting for the word, but 

 before the blurred booming of the guns had 

 done echoing, he was out, retrieving the dead 

 birds. 



Sometimes when a covey ran after he came 

 to a point, if the guns were slow coming up, 

 he followed the running quarry, almost crawl- 

 ing himself, and looking shamefaced as who 

 should say : " I know my business — also that 



