The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1888-02-25
BOB.


Bob. Dear, kind, patient old Bob.
Will ever forget that day in the woods
with Bob? No while these hands can
steady II gun barrel and these eyes
glance along its shining steel.
My acquaintance with Bob dates back
to those good old days, when wing
shooting was seldom talked of, never
attempted in our country; and a bird
on the wing was as safe as squirrel
in hollow tree.
l was spending week at old 81
Evans on Rock Creek II month
was October. Pike and bass fishing
were both at their best, and a right
royal time was having, breakfastimg
before day light, wading all day in the
clear waters Oi Rock Greek, listening
at very short Intervals to the music OF
the reel, whirliug ~ only Rock Greek
pike or bass can make it whirl, return
ing AT night tired aud hungry to u game
amt fish dinner cooked in the style that
has made ri Evans hotel famous
through all the western country.
first saw Bob before daylight Oh u
frosty October morning. came down
stairs very early, all equipped for
day = fishing In the office OF the hotel
II bright wood fire was burning. Mr.
Evans was busy trimming his lamps
behind the little counter. Before the
fire sat Bob. He never even looked
around at my entrance; he sat with
stoiid Indifference looking at the fire.
lie was very ugly. His little face
was plnched aud WTinkled and gloomy
looking, his eyes were deep set and
covered with shaggy eyebrows, a TUT
Of gray whi-kers hung down from his
long chin; his body was lnng and fat,
his legs were crooked and bowed, with
big joints and big feet.
Ugly ~ he was. there was something
dignitied in the way he sat gazing at
the lirc, pur-uin9 The bent at his own
thoughts, regardless Of all surround
ings.
What is ii, 81, and where did you
get it 2"
"Uh, that? Why, that's Bob. |
raised Bob from little dog"
"Well, you didn't have much success
rdlsin2 him. | said, with laugh.
He isn't much larger than rabbit
now
"Oh, YOU needn't laugh, MIR. Fred,
he's good little dog. Are you going
10 take your gun with YOU to- day? be-
cause il you are, take Bob along he's
good little dog
After IL short drive Bob aud landed
on the banks of Rock Creek. Thick
gray toy was hanging over the stream.
The morning was cold. | put on
large club for bait. The third or fourth
cast succeeded III fastening my hook
INTO sunken log well ont in the
stream. The hook was iavOrite one
that | didn't care to lose, nor did | care
10 risk wetting by wading out to it at
this time III the morning. | fastened
the rod ana took up my gun, Conclud-
ing To ospcnd an hour or So IN the woods,
trusting that something would loosen
my hook III that time. Bob during all
this time sat quietly on the bank, APP
paremtly absorbed in deep caniue
philosophical question. spoke to him
as | took up my gun. lie quietly got
up and troIted after me. We took our
way across the broad meadows toward
u distant piece of timber Several
times while crossing the meadows |
turned and spoke to Bob :he looked up,
then looked down; and whether he
WAS pleased with my recognition of
MIN or moi couldn't tell. If he was
he gave no sign of it. Bob unfortunate
ly lacked that most expire ,sive part of
dog anatomy, "A tail, SO il wns diff
cult To interpret his feelings. Bob never
lett his place behind me until we en-
tered the woods. Then he trotted off
poked his head into all the fallen tree
tops, investigated every little clump of
bushes, and finally got out of sight al
together. Ten minutes later his sharp,
short bark Cainr from another part of
the woods. | turned toward it, re-
marking, BLAST that dog! lie has II
ground squirrel freed and will scare all
the game out OF the woods with his
bark pushed my way through the
thick undcrhrush in the direction Of
the bark. Suddenly WhirrIl, WhiyyFI,
tChtr17I, Went the grouse, seemingly
ont OF every tree and bush in the
ncighborhood Bob took il very good
naturcdly and tr"Ued off into the
woods. Evidently he had hunted with
awkward called spurtsmen before.
A iew minutes later | heard his bark
again. This time | approached more
cautiously. At last saw him sitting
uncuncernrd IN little open place in
u
that every now and then he would
raise his hrad aud give II short sharp
bark. On II bush few rods from him
,ioDd II large cock grouse, hIs head up,
his neck stretched, eVidently an inter
Csted listener To Bob's canine music.
Bang! The concert ceased, the grouse
was bagged, and Bob trutted off once
more
His bark soon Gnundri through the
woods again. This time hc had an AT
dIence OF three; two were bagged.
And So oh umiil we had captured seven
very tinr ruftrd grouse
Soon heard his bark again, this
time it seemed to he moving. Ii came
closer. | was trying TO make out what
this could mean, when rabbit darted
across the opening before me and en-
tered the brush before | could shoot.
Bob cnmr iolln wing after some 80 or 10
icei behind the rabbit. setter toll
lows rubbit so close that il ~ coin.
ncllcd to hole 10 ESCAPE. Bob seemed
to understand this; hc followed at
slow dog trOl, Just enough TO keep the
rabbit amused. could hear his yclp
going further and further, then circling
round, then coming nearer and nearer
Presently the rabbit Gar'ed out of cover
almost where ha had before. This time
| was ready Tor him and he joined the
grouse; AMI the dog trolted oil. In this
little patch of unicrOrush Bob and
ba4ged four rabbits.
Bob was hunting along The hill side
above me. | wa following along the
bank VI Rock Greek. suddenly saw