TAUGHT TO SWIM 11 



cries of the cubs showed ; yet, distressed though 

 they were at the separation, they were afraid to 

 commit themselves to the pool and try to join 

 her. Thereupon the otter swam back to within 

 a few feet of the foreland where the shrinking 

 creatures stood and, wheeling slowly, returned 

 again to the islet, calling as she went. 



This she did many times, employing every 

 wile she knew to coax them after her ; but 

 all in vain. For three nights, despite all her 

 pains, she failed to tempt them beyond the 

 shallows. At last, just when she was about to 

 put them out of their depth, the smaller cub 

 overcame its hesitation, waded till it lost foot- 

 hold, then swam bravely across, landed with a 

 little wriggling jump, and sent the spray flying 

 from every silky hair along the fourteen inches 

 of its length, as it shook itself before rolling on 

 the sedge to dry its coat more thoroughly. The 

 male cub, who had watched her every movement, 

 was now beside himself at being left alone, and 

 after running for some time up and down the 

 bank, uttering the most piteous plaints, followed 

 the others across and dried his fur as his sister 

 had done. Presently they all swam back to the 

 foreland. Before returning to the hover, they 

 crossed and recrossed four times more ; and once 



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