A Retrieving Incident. 205 
the water, swimming from one bank to the other up stream, 
until he came near to the place where we stood. Then he 
landed, shook himself, and carefully hunted down the 
near bank for a considerable distance, crossed the river, and 
diligently explored the opposite bank. This had occupied 
two or three minutes, and the party were for moving on, 
as snow was falling, and we were all thoroughly tired. 
“That’s a lost bird, depend upon it; and, with this bitter 
wind, no dog could find it if it fell on the bank, especially 
after his long day’s work,” said one; and all were for giving 
it up. 
But I knew my retriever. He was not to be beaten 
if the faintest trail could be found. Just then I called their 
attention to a change in his movements. His “flag” was up 
now, and waving from side to side in the energetic manner 
that betokens a strong scent. I was then confident that 
the bird was as safe as if it was already in my bag. Away 
over the top of the heather could be seen the waving tail, 
moving steadily on, until, at some thirty yards from the bank, 
there was a momentary scuffle, the bird just rose above the 
ground—it proved to have the tip of the wing broken—the 
dog sprang up and caught it, dashed across the river, and 
delivered it into my hand. “I never witnessed so perfect 
a piece of workmanship in all my life,” said Sir Robert 
Torrens; “you have a grand dog there.” Still the party 
could not understand the dog’s peculiar tactics, which I ex- 
plained as we trudged home. By long experience in the 
Australian swamps and creeks, and in the narrow, sluggish 
streamlets of the La Plata, he had learned that a wounded 
duck, owing to his weakness, goes down stream—if winged, 
his maimed limb sticks out, and renders it impossible for 
him to go up—and will invariably endeavour to land, and 
slip away into any cover he can find. But if the dog dashes 
into the water where the bird fell, the latter will continue 
going down stream for an indefinite distance, rising now and 
then for breath, and giving infinite trouble. My dog had 
