AFTER THE BASS 45 



under it the current bore them rapidly along the 

 reaches without sign of man's neighbourhood, 

 save a disused limekiln, until the last bend 

 brought them within sight of a bridge and of the 

 hamlet that straggles down the hillside to a 

 wharf on the water's edge. When they were 

 abreast of it the bass began to rise, and drew 

 them in pursuit. Shooting up from below, the 

 hunters seized the unsuspecting fish, and soon 

 were busy eating their take, the cubs on buoys, 

 the otter on a projecting stone of one of the 

 buttresses of the bridge. Once all three landed 

 under the farthest arch and dropped their prey 

 in affright at the unexpected presence of the 

 parish constable, who was sheltering there and 

 was almost as much scared himself. 



Soon the crowing of the village cocks warned 

 the otter that she ought to withdraw ; but it was 

 not until the smoke began to rise from the galley 

 of the smack by the wharf that she at last gave 

 up fishing and made for the drain hard by, where 

 she had twice laid up before. Against a strong 

 head of water they forced their way up the 

 tunnel till they came to the rude ledges of 

 masonry in it, and there curled up as best they 

 could for the day. The cubs had never hovered 

 in such scant quarters before, but their discom- 



