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178 which the chase presently shifted. There the fear that the game would land and reach the cliff suddenly possessed him. So all at once he urged the boat past hounds and island to the reedy corner, where he jumped to his feet and kept splashing the water to drive the otter back. The nearer the hounds approached the more frantically he wielded the oar, nor did he desist till they showed by their movements that the otter had left the end of the creek and was returning to the mere.

Whilst he watched them the squire and his followers came over the brow, and all made for the beach except the squire, who came tearing down the hill towards the boat.

'To the hounds, John!' he gasped as he stepped into the crazy craft. At the word the old man pushed off and bent to his work with wondrous vigour.

'Have you viewed the otter?'

'No, sir, I haven't, but I spurred un.'

'You spurred him? When?'

'Soon aifter break o' day.'

'You did?'

'Iss, sir, sure as you're standin' on they starn sheets.'

'What! the big otter?'