MALE CUB DISOBEDIENT 7 



suckled them to sleep, and, lying between them 

 and the mouth of the holt, as was her invariable 

 custom, shielded them from cold and danger. 



These were happy days for the dam, but owing 

 to the wilfulness of the male cub they did not 

 last long. He had taken it into his head that he 

 was big enough to go out alone, and one night 

 out he ventured. He was more than half-way 

 to the reed-bed when his mother found him. 

 This first demonstration of independence caused 

 her little concern, but she was almost beside 

 herself with anxiety when, two days later, he 

 made an attempt to sally out in broad daylight, 

 and all but succeeded in getting away. He was 

 nearly over the bank when she pulled him back 

 by the tail and gave him a sharp nip by way of 

 punishment. The very next day the incorrigible 

 fellow got even farther away ; but she discovered 

 his absence before he had got beyond the tus- 

 socks, fetched him back, and bit him severely as 

 she laid him down in the nest. Thus disobedi- 

 ence brought unhappiness into the hover, and the 

 cub, shrinking from the mother he deemed cruel, 

 shuffled to the inmost corner, where fibrous roots 

 protruded from the low roof, and there licked his 

 bruises in morose isolation. 



Aware now of his rashness, the otter dared 



