Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-11-04

man should be more careful with his
facts.
There may be lots of intelligent
hunting dogs i'll this part of the
world" said Col. Tubman. but l will
lay a wager with an reputable man
that | have dog that can give them
all odds and beat them in any intel
lcctEal contest that can be arranged,
This dog of mine is an English
pointer, 3 years old. very good to look
upon. and with q truly wonderful
mind. Blboa, | call the dog, and as
Bilboa he is known I" every hunter
and every negro in the Yazo" region.
I've been hunting with that dog ever
since he was months old. and every
time l take him out he seems to have
grown in Intelligence. 1t is needless
to cnuineratc the hundreds of things
that dog did during his puppyhood to
prove the fallacy of those gentlemen
who say that dog, have no thinking
power. The one instance I'm going
To relate will be sufficient.
About three weeks ago ! had
Bilboa up ON tn" Eastern shore OF
Maryland. That is my old camping
ground. you know, for ] lived there
before going t. Mississippi. There
is perhaps no finer place in tn" Coun~
try for summer duck shooting in the
months Of September and October.
was there to enjoy some of il. Bill
boa was along because never take up
4 gun without that dog at my heels.
He would never forgive me if l did.
w ell. Bilbua and | hadn't been in
Maryland more than Il couple of davh
before We began to arrange for the
first big duck hunt. Down in the
BlachWatcr region lives one of the
best all-round hunters | ever knew.
Bill Brooks is his name. and h" can
bring Il duck down out 0f the clouds.
Moreover, he knows just where to look
for them. and is All ideal hunting
companion,
In due time next day Brooks and
Eilboa and | were ON the hunting
grounds. 1t WAS an entirely new ter
rit"ry To l}ilbna, but the dog seemed
to know just what "" We're after and
acted accordingly. He started in at
one" Ia rang" The marshes with head
in air trying to scent the ducks front
afar.
We'll, Brooks went off up the
marsh and Bilboa and | ranged in the
"rposit" direction. An hour or more
passed and several miles were placed
between Brooks and me
Everything went we'll until we
reached Il wide muskrat run. Bilboa
swan through the sosgy mud and
water, Cautiously | placed by booted
loot over the edge and began to let
myself down. Down | went / tried
to scramble up the side again. but my
hands slipped ana l went in up to the
shoulders
60 after Brooks. [ said to the
dog.
n look of understanding came over
mat dogs face, and like IA fash he
turned tail and dashed away. learn
ed later from Brooks what happened.
me dog found him 3 or I miles away.
SprahE up and placing his muddy feet
upon Brooks hunting coat. looked APP
ncailnSly into his face and whined,
lhen turned aoain and started back the
way he had come. WINE
brooks, who knows a lot about dogs
and their ways, followed as fast as he
could. When he and Bilboa arrived
al the gully my chin was under the
tx ana was nearly all in. But in
Jllty Brooks had me out, and I guess
:"efe never was a dog who showed his
Joy more than Bilboa did. He SEEM
~ 70 KNOW that he had saved my life.
say ne seemed to know--of course,
ne knew. That dog has more sense
tld'l lot of men I know"-Ncw