32 THE LIFE STORY OF AN OTTER 



the cubs were waiting for her among some rushes. 

 From their shelter mother and cubs now watched 

 the movements of their puzzled foe, who began 

 examining the banks of the pool. When he came 

 near, they sank almost out of sight, their nostrils 

 alone showing, and so remained until he had time 

 to pass ; then the otter raised her head to recon- 

 noitre. Once as she did so she found the terrier 

 standing within a few yards, but looking so 

 intently in another direction that he failed to 

 sight her ; whereupon she sank again as noiselessly 

 as she had risen, not leaving even her nostrils 

 exposed. A score of times, at least, did the dog 

 make the circuit of the pool ; and had he been 

 able to scent the otter — a thing which but few 

 dogs can do — he must at least have driven them 

 from their shelter, and possibly from the pool, for 

 it was very small. Yet, insensible though he 

 was to the scent, he was so convinced the animals 

 were there that, after departing, he actually came 

 back and looked again before taking himself off 

 for good and leaving the otters free to resume 

 their interrupted march. 



For three hours they had been detained, and 

 now, hurry as they might, it was impossible to 

 reach the cairn before daybreak. Indeed, they 

 were yet two miles away when the ridges above 



