The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-12-20
AMATEUR NIMROD
DESERTED BY DOG
Poor Workmanship on Part OF
Hunter Seemingly Dis
gusted Pointer.
FEARS FOR OWN SAFETY
Following a FruitIess Fusillade, Know.
ing Animal Beats q hssty Retreat
and Refuses to Again Assist
in Quest Of Quarry.

81 can confirm I'm n practical hunting
field way story recently pub
ilshcd OF moro scientific analysis OF tho
intelligence and reasoning powers OF tho
dog" said n subscriber TO n reporters
''and ever since the episode I have had
moro respect for dogs In general and the
setter breed In particular.
II was visiting some relatives In North
Carolina last fall during the quail season.
Game was plentiful on the plantation. but
ns am poor hunter and worse marks
man didn't participate In the daily shoot
Ing. One fine day. however. my uncle IN
sisted that I should take his gun and his
crack setter Belle and 20 over the game
preserves, mile or so back OF the house.
and try my hand at the quail, which. no
said. were 80 plentiful there that II shut
my eyes and let the charge no hRphazard.
with Bellies assistance, I would be bound
10 come home with the game bag nllco.
HE handed me his gun. with n lot uf
cartridges called Belle from the shade OF
a convenient tree. and, pointing To me.
talked 10 her as II the dog understood cv-
cry word he sad. winding up his instruc-
tons TO her by saying that he relied upon
her TO pilot me right and TO bring me home
again with lots OF birds. From the way
the setter looked from her masters faCc
into mine. yawncd. blinked her Intelligent
eyes and barked "A couple of affirmative
yelps. I am free to say that believe she
understood every word OF the talk as well
as either of us.
Shows Esssrness ut Sta ring.
AT any rate the dog started for the field
with every manifestation Of Joy. pilottd
me through the pines and the brush. and
cy.nccd the livelicst interest In me all the
way over TO the quail field. Here Belle
was the lady on the spot for sure. for the
birds few up IN all directions. l followed
two or three fiocks over the field. and
banged away ut the birds right and left.
but not one could 1 bring down. During
this fusilladc I noticed that Belle would
stop her work frequently and look n; mo
in an inqulrlng way. Once or twice she
even camo up To me. looked up into my
face. gave n little bark or two. and then
started back and worked nj flushing the
birds with renewed v.gor.
Finally. just rs l had about expended
all my ammunition without hitting n
single bird. I saw Belle suddenly stop.
take n long look In my direction. aS though
some dog idea OF hers had been confirmed
Thcn she bounded toward. me-. gave a few
banks when she got near. which were I'M
doubtedly expressive OF tho deepest dog
disgust for me as sportsman. and away
she scampcrcd as tight as she could GO.
over the fields and through the woods to
tho house.
II followed n little later very much
.crestfallcn. From that hour Belle never
paid the slightest attention TO me during.
the remainder OF my visit. and no cajoling
on my part nor commands Of her master.
could make that intelligent and discr.nii-
mating setter even so much as look at me
She just reasoned Il out that I was fraud
so far as n sportsman was concerned. and
was IN consequence beneath her notice.
Ever since then have believed In the els
eliminating intelligence OF dogs"