Page:Hunting and trapping stories; a book for boys (IA huntingtrappings00pric).pdf/117

 best they can, straining every nerve to keep up the pace at which the hounds have started.

The otter, however, seems to be far from his hole, for he still holds down the stream, followed by his enemies, though, as mile after mile is passed, one or two of the less sturdy are fain to lag behind. But again the hounds stop and begin to search about; the otter has once more dived, and is out of sight. He is there, however, beyond doubt, for the dogs will not leave the place, and the hunters are urging them on to search. At last a yelp from the foremost dog, and a shout from one of the men, He's here! he's here!" shows that the otter has been compelled to take to the water again. But this time the poor otter has the worst of it.

If he would save his skin he must resort to all sorts of tricks, such as doubling back through his enemies. An otter usually makes for its hole from which it is a great job to get him out. The only way to do so is to dig him out. Just about the time you have reached the spot where you feel sure the otter must be out it jumps and the chances are ten to one that all the dogs tumble over each other but miss the otter in their hurry. The most exciting end to a hunt is when the dogs catch up with the otter in mid stream, this is after it has been driven so hard that it is almost too tired to dive again. The hounds make short work of the poor beast. The body is brought ashore and "broken up." The hunters take the paws as momentoes of the occasion and then every one goes home tired. The dog's tails hang down now the excitement is over and one can see by their eyes that all they are thinking about is supper and sleep.

There was an otter that lived near where a river entered into a lake. He was old and wise and cared not a rap for all the otter hounds in the world. He would travel several miles up stream in search of fish and if the hounds came upon him he would lead them a lively chase down stream which always ended in his taking to the lake where the dogs could not follow him.

The hunters even placed dogs at the mouth of the river but the otter always dived through his enemies. On one occasion he bit off a dogs foot underwater.

This otter lived for many years and became quite well known for his shrewdness and sagacity. A year or two after he had been last hunted he disappeared and as he was know to be fairly old it is supposed that he died a natural death. This is a fate that very rarely comes to an otter living on a river in the British Islands.