IN A RABBIT-BURROW 27 



before at length withdrawing to a clitter some 

 half-mile down the stream. 



There the dark recesses of the pile of rocks 

 proved a welcome retreat to the cubs, and with 

 the music of the waters for a lullaby they soon 

 fell asleep. They hovered there again on the 

 morrow ; after which they continued on their 

 journey laying up under the bank of the wide 

 pool where the stream joins the river. 



At setting-out time the otter seemed half- 

 minded to follow the river to its source, for she 

 kept looking towards the lone hill where it rises ; 

 but presently — the lowness of the water probably 

 weighing with her — she decided to go down- 

 stream, summoned her cubs and trotted across 

 the bend to the head of the long rapids, where 

 they entered the water and drifted with the 

 current. At dawn they sought a rabbit-burrow 

 on the river-bank so near the woods that the 

 cubs, who lay by the mouth of one of the holes, 

 could hear the pigeons cooing. The retreat was 

 safe and very dry, and would have left little to 

 desire if the rabbits had taken no notice. But 

 the timid creatures, thoroughly alarmed at the 

 presence of the otters, stamped almost with- 

 out intermission and prevented their uninvited 

 guests from sleeping. At noon the otter, 



4—2 



