CHAPTER XI 
FINISHING TOUCHES 
RULY, you will find breaking a bird 
dog a most fascinating study with 
never a dull moment and always 
some problem to be solved. There was, for 
instance, the day when little Byrd came up 
behind Old Ned and found him on point. 
This was toward the latter part of February 
and the first time she had been afield with 
“her old master” for some time. Imagine 
my surprise when, after backing for a few 
seconds, the little bitch started to pull ahead 
of the stanch and steady pointer. I was 
naturally furious and spoke to her quite 
harshly. 
But, there was another tale to tell when 
no birds flushed! Then, quite some little 
distance ahead, Byrd came to a stand and 
we found the birds in front of her when we 
stepped forward to flush. She had as much 
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