START FOR THE CREEK 29 



waters, whose holts are unaffected by droughts, 

 and where she could teach the cubs many new 

 lessons. She first thought of going down the 

 river to the estuary, but changed her plans almost 

 at the last moment and determined to make for 

 a creek where she had had good fishing with her 

 mate, the father of the cubs. The destination 

 was two good marches distant, but she knew a 

 stronghold by the way where they could lodge, 

 and from which they could easily reach the creek 

 on the following night. 



In her anxiety to gain this refuge before dawn, 

 she left her couch in the reed-bed at early dusk 

 and, full of her purpose, made for the old hover 

 where the cubs always slept when in the morass. 

 Hearing the faint rustle of the herbage as she 

 approached, the quick-eared creatures left the 

 nest, and when she came up, fell into their place 

 at her side. Leading past the pool to the river, 

 she crossed it and headed towards the woodman's 

 cottage. The rapid pace at which the animals 

 travelled soon brought them within sight of the 

 low, thatched building beneath its sheltering oak, 

 but as nothing stirred they passed close to the 

 garden fence and into the gloom of the pines 

 beyond. 



A happier little band of nomads could not be 



