A TIMELY REFUGE 99 



about, searching along the foot of the cliff as if 

 they meant to find ; and very soon they did find, 

 but in a place where neither hounds nor terrier 

 could reach the quarry. The doctor, who was 

 nearest, at once made his way to the spot where 

 the hounds were clamouring and, lying flat on 

 the ledge, succeeded in dislodging the game from 

 its retreat by means of the pole he carried. 

 Thus driven from his only refuge, the otter got 

 no rest. As a good scent guided the hounds, 

 the hunted creature's only chance lay in weary- 

 ing out his pursuers. And what endurance he 

 showed ! He dived hither and thither for over 

 three hours and never landed once ; but all in 

 vain, the pack showed no signs of tiring. 



At last, in desperation, he slipped over the fall 

 into the pool below and passed down the stream, 

 searching for a hiding-place as he went. Soon 

 he reached the boulder from which the harbourer 

 had watched the hounds and, sighting the crevice 

 at its base, swam through the narrow opening to 

 the hollowed space within. Scarcely was he 

 ensconced when he heard the cry of his pursuers, 

 and a minute later the maddened creatures were 

 roaring at the mouth of his retreat. Squire and 

 followers came tearing down the hill, and when 

 the whipper-in had succeeded in calling off the 



13—2 



