OTTER-HUNTING 77 



The otter-hunter, unless he wishes to catch his death 

 from rheumatism, must have a kit suited to the sur- 

 roundings of the sport — to wit, big boots, well cut and 

 slashed, so as to let the water out as soon as it gets in, 

 stockings, breeches, and flannel, and plenty of it. The 

 sport is a favourite one with ladies, who adopt short 

 skirts and dispense with petticoats in favour of knicker- 

 bockers. Clad like this, neither man nor lady need 

 fear the after-effects of a plunge into mid-stream. 



The chief part of the science of otter-hunting, after 

 hounds have challenged the holt, proclaiming that 

 an otter has couched there very recently, is to prevent 

 him slipping away into deep water. To do this effectu- 

 ally, as many of the followers as are necessary to make 

 a line across the stream must jump into the water, and, 

 by joining hands, form a barrier against the otter ; but 

 it is necessary in this case that you should keep your 

 feet together, and hold tight, for the otter is just as 

 likely as not to dive between your legs and upset you 

 and all your neighbours. Such accidents, of course, 

 only increase the fun of the sport, but we have always 

 derived keener enjoyment from this fun when we have 

 witnessed it from the bank. In any case, it is advis- 

 able not to take your station next to a novice, for the 

 result will probably be baptism, coupled with total 

 immersion. The novice means to do his best, but is 

 apt to lose his head amid the splash and niiUe of 

 struggling hounds around him. 



Besides, the old proverb that too many cooks spoil 

 the broth applies to otter-hunting as it does to fox- 

 hunting, though in a lesser degree, and a Master 

 does not like every member of his field to take pro- 

 miscuously to the water, when they can see the sport 

 just as well from the bank. Nor should a novice be 



