Suggestion for Beginners—A Rabbit Hunt 59 
to the left was an open woods, with piles of brush 
here and there and a fallen log to vary the scene, 
and add to the picturesqueness of the setting. At 
the farther end of the woods an old worm fence 
zig-zagged down to the creek and crossed it at a 
narrow point, leaving sufficient space for the water 
to run underneath, then it continued on and encircled 
a corn field on the far side. A more perfect setting 
for Molly Cotton-tail could not have been conceived 
and we did not wonder at Farmer Smith’s statement 
that there were “millions of ’em.” 
Charlie clucked to the dogs as we came to the 
edge of the patch and waved his arm in that direc¬ 
tion. “Hunt ’em up!” he said in a low voice and 
both dogs were off. It is not often one finds beagles 
under such good command, but these two gave me 
a good opportunity to note how much can be done 
in the way of educating a rabbit dog in what is 
generally known as “yard breaking,” if one sets out 
to do it. Some beaglers advocate no breaking at 
all, but simply to allow the dogs their natural way, 
but when it comes to a day’s gunning, how much 
more satisfactory it is to hunt with beagles that 
are under good command! 
“We might as well go an’ find some good places 
for stands,” suggested my companion; “those dogs’ll 
do their own starting, we don't have to do it for 
’em.” Both dogs disappeared in the briars by this 
time, but every now and then we had glimpses of 
them as they wound in and out among the vines. 
“Belle’s a better starter than Bill,” continued Charlie, 
“but Bill’s no slouch.” 
Presently we heard a short, sharp yap; one of 
