26 DECEMBER 1952, Page 13

Bob's Dog

When Bob goes out with his dog he does not simply go for a walk. He beats about the hedge, the dead bracken and the gorse. The dog finds a scent, and Bob follows almost as eagerly as his charge. They wander away from the footpath, investigate a pile of stones and a blackberry-patch and. losing interest, 'come on course again. .1 watched them on their way along the side of a hill. The dog's head went down a rabbit-hole, and Bob got down to offer encouragement. They moved along, and suddenly the dog put up a rabbit that had been crouching in the grass. A shout from Bob and a yelp from his dog drew my attention to them again. Bob had tripped and was struggling to his feet. The dog came back with the rabbit in his mouth, and Bob took it. Man and dog disappeared over the hill, and I did not see them again, but about ten minutes later a pair of partridges sailed down into one of the lower fields. I could imagine the excitement they had caused. It amused me because Bob is no youngster. He must be seventy or more, but it is the age of a man's heart that counts and Bob's heart is young.