102 THE LIFE STORY OF AN OTTER 



1 Don't much matter, squire ; the otter's 

 drownded before this.' 



* May be ; but will you put your hand in and 

 draw him out ?' 



* No, thank 'ee,' replied the miller amidst the 

 loud laughter of the crowd. * Geordie's the man 

 for that job.' 



' I don't mind trying, sir,' said the gipsy, who 

 unhesitatingly approached the rock, knelt in the 

 water, put in his hand to the full length of his 

 arm, and began feeling blindly about the inside. 

 He had worked round three sides and reached 

 the corner to the right when the otter gripped 

 him by the ball of the thumb. His face, which 

 was half turned to the onlookers, must have 

 betrayed the pain he felt, for the woodman 

 called out : ' Have 'ee got un, Geordie ?' 



'I don't know about that,' replied Geordie, 

 ' but he's got me.' 



Slowly he drew the resisting creature towards 

 the aperture, but on being brought to the light 

 it let go, and allowed the man to rise to his feet. 



* Rather a nasty wound, Geordie,' said the 

 squire, putting half a sovereign in the bleeding 

 palm. 



1 Thank you, sir ; 'tes only a scratch to some 

 I've had. I'll have another try if you like, sir.' 



