442. Although I was now close to the showman, I could not remark that he gave the least signal by look, or by motion of hand or foot: but I fancied—this, however, may be only another “mare’s nest,” though I cannot think it was—that I heard him make a slight chuckling sound[85] (with his tongue against the roof of his mouth), whilst the dog was walking round from domino to domino, which ceased when he approached the right domino, leaving the man at liberty to jest and talk nonsense for the amusement of the crowd. He had evidently a long string of ready-prepared witticisms. He laughed at the dog for being so long in making up his mind as to what it would be most judicious to play;—told him that he had been so hospitably treated by the good Parisians, that it was evident his brains were not so clear as they ought to be, &c., &c.: all which verbiage I suspect the dog took as a confirmation that he was making the selection his master wished. The man promised to call upon me; but I was obliged to leave Paris sooner than I had expected, and I never saw him again.
EXCELLENCE EXPECTED.
443. Our attention, however, perhaps you will think, ought to be confined to instances of intelligence and high education in sporting dogs. Well, then, in the next Chapter I will speak of what some dogs of that class do in this, and some are trained to do in other countries;—facts for the truth of which I can vouch, and I hope the account will induce you to believe I am not unreasonable in asserting that we have a right to require greater excellence in our sporting dogs than what is now regarded by most of us as satisfactory.
CHAPTER XV.
ANECDOTES OF DOGS ON SERVICE ABROAD. RUSSIAN SETTERS.
[444]. Dogs for Hunting Bears in India.—[445]. Polygar Dogs for Hunting Wild Hog in India.—[446]. Beaters in India; the greater utility of Dogs.—[447]. Mongrel Pointer in India which proved of great value.—[448]. Cross between Pointer and Indian Dog recommended; in Note, Arab Greyhounds.—[449]. Coolness necessary in attacking large Game.—[450] to [457]. K——g’s critical encounter with Elephant.—[458]. Sketch of Scene.—[459], [460]. Wounded Elephant.—[461]. Pot shot at Bear to be potted.—[462]. Skull of Indian and African Elephant differs.—[463] to [467]. M——e bearding Lion in Den.—[468]. Hindu’s estimate of courage of Europeans. Encounter with Wild Boar.—[469]. Strong Greyhounds for killing Kangaroos in Australia.—[470]. Greyhound hunted with Falcon.—[471]. The Creole Sportsman and admirable little Cur.—[472]. His good generalship with Wild Hog.—[473]. The moral of the Story; in Note, Guinea-chicks; Guinea-birds’ eggs, how taken. Cross with Muscovy Drake.—[474], [475]. Quantity of fish at Newfoundland. Dog Fishing.—[476]. Sir H——d D——s.—[477] to [480]. Newfoundland fetching back Fox.—[481]. Sir George B——k, R.N.—[482] to [488]. His Terrier “Muta” leading him to Musk Bull.—[489]. His Sketch of the Scene.—[490]. Lord M——f; the dogs “Captain” and “Suwarrow.”—[491]. Dot-and-go-one, with his old Pointer.—[492]. How fairly done by “Captain.”—[493]. Breakers, not dogs, in fault; they could be taught anything.—[494]. “Rap” (a Pointer) hunting covers with Springers and Terriers.—[495]. “Shot” (a Pointer), on alternate days, hunting with Hounds and standing at Birds.—[496]. How accounted for.—[497]. Affection an incentive to exertion; Dropper alternately pointing Grouse and Snipe; Grouse-dog to be rated when noticing Snipe.—[498]. Capital Dropper from Russian Setter; difficulty of procuring Russian Setters.—[499]. Bet respecting superiority of two Keepers in the Highlands; how decided.—[500]. High-priced dogs ought to be highly broken.
444. Bears of the common species which we often see led about, are very numerous in the hilly districts of some parts of India. In rocky, nearly inaccessible places, the natives hunt them with a strong-set wiry dog. This dog is trained to watch for his opportunity, and leap very high upon the chest of the bear, and seize his throat. You would, perhaps, think this the most disadvantageous position which the dog could select, enabling Bruin to crush him in his powerful embrace. Not so. The well-instructed creature draws himself up so high that the bear, in lieu of crushing his ribs, merely presses his hips,—and the bear’s arms, instead of injuring his opponent are often his best protection; for the animals frequently come rolling together to the foot of the hill, where the hunters despatch poor Bruin with their spears.
BOAR AND POLYGAR DOGS.