THE BOOK OF THE OTTER 



mentioned a hunt during which the otter crossed a 

 watershed, and this brings to mind a seven and a 

 half hours' hunt by the K. and D.O.H. on the 

 River Lune in the season of 1921. The otter was 

 lying rough in a hanging wood overlooking the 

 river, and was found by a little fell-foxhound 

 named Cragsman, belonging to the Ullswater pack. 

 After some up and down work on the river, our 

 otter stole away on land, and crossed some fields 

 to a small stream which runs between steep banks. 

 There was a screaming scent, and hounds fairly 

 flew in pursuit. The otter ran the small stream 

 nearly to the top of the ghyll, then turned and 

 came back. In a rock-bound pool he lay low, but 

 hounds were soon at him again. The pool lay 

 between smooth and slippery walls of rock, and at 

 first the otter barely showed his nose. Suddenly, 

 however, he made a terrific spring his hind legs 

 no doubt getting purchase on a ledge below the 

 surface of the water and all but got clear of the 

 pool. He hung for a brief instant on the rock 



wall, making the picture of a lifetime for anyone 



J34 



