Part 37 (1/2)

167. These are the correct _theoretical_ rules, and the more closely you observe them, the more truly and killingly will your ground be hunted.

168. Probably you will think that such niceties are utterly impracticable.

They must be impracticable if you look for mathematical precision; but if you hope to shoot over more than mere rabble, you should work upon _system_. If you do not, what can you expect but an unorganized mob?--an undrilled set, perpetually running over each other's ground,--now grouped in this part, now crowded in that,--a few likely spots being hunted by all (especially if they are old dogs), the rest of the field by none of them; and to control whose unprofitable wanderings, why not employ a regular huntsman and a well-mounted whip? Doubtless it would be absurd to hope for perfect accuracy in so difficult a matter as a systematic range in a brigade of dogs; but that you may approach correctness, take a true standard of excellence. If you do not keep perfection in view, you will never attain to more than mediocrity. I earnestly hope, however, that it cannot be your wish to take out a host of dogs--but should you have such a singular hobby, pray let them be regularly brigaded, and not employed as a pack. In my opinion, under no circ.u.mstances can more than relays of leashes be desirable; but I should be sorry in such matters to dispute any man's right to please himself; I only wish him, whatever he does, to strive to do it correctly.

169. Some men who shoot on a grand scale make their keepers hunt each a distinct brace of dogs,--the gun going up to whatever dog points. It is the most killing plan to adopt; but that is not the matter we were considering. The question was, what method a man ought to pursue who had a fancy to himself hunt many dogs at a time.

170. If a professional breaker could show you a brigade of dogs well trained to quarter their ground systematically, and should ask from fifty to sixty guineas[29] a brace for them, you ought not to be surprised.

What an extent of country they could sweep over in an hour and not leave a bird behind! And consider what time and labor must have been spent in inculcating so n.o.ble a range. He would have been far better paid if he had received less than half the money as soon as they ”pointed steadily,” both at the living and the dead; ”down charged;” ”backed:” and were broken from ”chasing hare,” or noticing rabbits.

171. Some men fancy that the faster they walk, the more country they hunt.

This is far from being always the case. Dogs travel at one rate, whether you walk fast or slow, and the distance between the parallels on which they work--being determined by the fineness of their noses, and the goodness of the scent--ought not to be affected by your pace. Suppose, therefore, that you shoot in an unenclosed country, whether you walk quickly, or merely crawl along, the only difference in the beat of your dogs _ought_ to be that, in the latter case, they range further to the right and the left. You thus make up in your _breadth_ what you lose in your _length_ of beat.

172. Nor do the fastest dogs, however well they may be broken, always truly hunt the most ground. The slower dogs have frequently finer olfactory nerves than their fleeter rivals,--therefore the parallels on which the former work may correctly be much wider apart than the parallels of the latter. The finer nose in this manner commands so much more ground that it beats the quicker heels out and out.

173. You will see, then, how judicious it is to show forbearance and give encouragement to the timid, but high-bred cla.s.s[30] of dogs described in 114; for it is obvious that, though they may travel slower, yet they may really hunt _properly_, within a specified time, many more acres of ground than their hardier and faster compet.i.tors; and it is certain that they will not so much alarm the birds. Dogs that are most active with their heels are generally least busy with their noses.

FOOTNOTES:

[27] Ent.i.tled, ”Field Sports in the United States and British Provinces, by Frank Forester.”

[28] A rule to be followed whenever you employ relays of braces.

[29] 250 to 300 dollars. This would be by no means an extraordinary price here, however extraordinary it might be to see dogs so qualified.--H.W.H.

[30] It is admitted, however, that they are often difficult animals to manage; for the _least_ hastiness on the part of the instructor may create a distrust that he will find it very hard to remove.

CHAPTER IX.

FIRST LESSON IN AUTUMN CONTINUED. ”POINT” NOT RELINQUISHED FOR ”DOWN CHARGE.”

174. To proceed, however, with our imaginary September day's work. I will suppose that your young dog has got upon birds, and that from his boldness and keenness in hunting you need not let him run riot on a haunt, as you were recommended (in 111) when you wished to give courage and animation to a timid dog. You must expect that his eagerness and delight will make him run in and flush them, even though you should have called out ”Toho” when first you perceived his stern begin feathering, and thence judged that his olfactory nerves were rejoicing in the luxurious taint of game. Hollo out ”Drop” most energetically. If he does not immediately lie down, crack your whip loudly to command greater attention. When you have succeeded in making him lie down, approach him quietly: be not angry with him, but yet be stern in manner. Grasping the skin of his neck, or, what is better, putting your hand within his collar--for he ought to wear a light one--quietly drag him to the precise spot where you think he was _first_ aware of the scent of the birds. There make him stand--if stand he will, instead of timidly crouching--with his head directed towards the place from which the birds took wing, and by frequently repeating the word ”Toho,” endeavor to make him understand that he ought to have pointed at that identical spot. Do not confuse him by even threatening to beat him.

The chances are twenty to one that he is anxious to please you, but does not yet know what you wish. I a.s.sume also that he is attached to you, and his affection, from constantly inducing him to exert himself to give satisfaction, will greatly develope his observation and intelligence.

175. Consider it a golden rule never to be departed from--for I must again impress upon you a matter of such importance--invariably to drag a dog who has put up birds incautiously, or wilfully drawn too near them, and so sprung them--or, what is quite as bad,--though young sportsmen will not sufficiently think of it,--_endangered_ their rising out of shot--to the exact spot at which you judge he ought to have pointed at first, and awaited your instructions.

176. Think for one moment what could be the use of chiding--or beating, as I have seen some ***** do--the poor animal at the spot where he flushed the birds. You are not displeased with him (or ought not to be) because the birds took wing,--for if they had remained stationary until he was within a yard of them, his fault would have been the same: nor are you angry with him because he did not catch them--which interpretation he might, as naturally as any other, put upon your rating him at the spot where he flushed them--you are displeased with him for _not having pointed_ at them steadily the moment he became sensible of their presence.

This is what you wish him to understand, and this you can only teach him by dragging him, as has been so often said, to the spot at which he ought to have ”toho-ed” them. Your object is to give the young dog, by instruction, the caution that most old dogs have acquired by experience.

Doubtless experience would in time convince him of the necessity of this caution; but you wish to save time,--to antic.i.p.ate that experience; and by a judicious education impart to him knowledge which it would take him years to acquire otherwise. What a dog gains by experience is not what you teach him, but what he teaches himself.

177. Many carelessly-taught dogs will, on first recognising a scent, make a momentary point, and then slowly crawl on until they get within a few yards of the game--if it be sufficiently complaisant to allow of such a near approach--and there ”set” as steady as a rock by the hour together.

Supposing, however, that the birds are in an unfriendly, distant mood, and not willing to remain on these neighborly terms, ”your game is up,” both literally and metaphorically,--you have no chance of getting a shot. This is a common fault among dogs hastily broken in the spring.

178. But to resume our supposed lesson. You must not be in a hurry--keep your dog for some time--for a long time, where he should have pointed. You may even sit down alongside him. Be patient; you have not come out so much to shoot, as to break in your dog. When at length you give him the wave of the hand to hie him on to hunt, you must not part as enemies, though I do not say he is to be caressed. He has committed a fault, and he is to be made sensible of it by your altered manner.

Suppose that, after two or three such errors, all treated in the way described, he makes a satisfactory point. Hold up your right hand, and the moment you catch his eye, remain quite stationary, still keeping your arm up. Dogs, as has been already observed, are very imitative; and your standing stock still will, more than anything else, induce him to be patient and immovable at his point. After a time--say five minutes, if, from the hour of the day and the dog's manner, you are convinced that the birds are not stirring--endeavor to get up to him so quietly as not to excite him to move. Whenever you observe him inclined to advance,--of which his lifting a foot or even raising a shoulder, or the agitation of his stern will be an indication,--stop for some seconds, and when by your raised hand you have awed him into steadiness, again creep on. Make your approaches within his sight, so that he may be intimidated by your eye and hand. If you succeed in getting near him without unsettling him, actually stay by him, as firm as a statue, for a quarter of an hour by one of Barwise's best chronometers. Let your manner, which he will observe, show great earnestness. Never mind the loss of time. You are giving the dog a famous lesson, and the birds are kindly aiding you by lying beautifully and not s.h.i.+fting their ground.