At the end of this day, number five, sixty pointers would have each hunted an hour in braces. Before the last brace was released, the judges announced that two of the dogs that had gone down earlier in the week should be ready to go down together at the end of this last scheduled brace in a call-back, its length to be, “Until ordered up.”
“One of them will be named Champion, one Runner-Up, unless of course a dog or dogs in this last brace changes things as they stand,” said the senior judge.
The announcement came as a surprise. The two called-back handlers were not happy. Each believed his dog’s performance had won it cleanly, of course.
They were old hands. Had competed head-to-head two decades. While waiting alone at the breakaway spot for the call-back brace, Bill said to Bob, “Let’s split the combined purses 50-50.” Bob nodded agreement. Their black scouts, chatting nearby, heard the exchange and were not surprised. It had happened before.
The dog truck arrived, carrying the called-back dogs. Then the driver’s cell phone rang. The last brace handlers had picked up their dogs. The dog truck raced off to get them and bring the judges to the earlier-announced call-back release spot. Ten minutes later, a judge said, “Let ‘em go.”
With two days rest, the called-back dogs broke away with gusto and in five minutes disappeared at the front. In ten minutes from breakaway, Bill’s arm shot up to point out his dog on a far ridge top on the course ahead. Bob’s dog was still unseen. So was Bill’s scout.
Bill’s dog had a find at 20, all in order. His location on point had been called out by Bob’s scout who had been dragging the right edge of the course where Bill’s dog was pointed. At 30, the judges called Bob’s dog out of judgment (gone too long) and named Bill’s dog Champion, Bob’s Runner-Up.
Just then, the dog truck’s horn blasted, Bill’s scout had been seen riding in, Bob’s dog on his check cord.
When Bill’s scout reached the party, he was told by Bob’s scout what had transpired. Bill’s scout said with a smile, “Thank you. I saw your dog way off, headed straight for the highway where the course is unfenced, I had to go get him.” Bob’s scout thanked Bill’s scout. The handlers were told by the scouts what had happened. The handlers told their owners. Gallery riders had already dispersed.
Five years later, Bob’s dog’s owner, whose Runner-Up had been saved from the highway by Bill’s scout, bought Whistling Pines Plantation near Thomasville. Bill had since died of cancer. The new plantation owner remembered Bill’s scout’s act of kindness and self-sacrifice and called Bill’s scout, “Booty, how about coming to work for me on Whistling Pines Plantation?”
There was no need for discussion of duties or pay.
“I would love that, Mr. Sam. When you want me to start?”