106 THE LIFE STORY OF AN OTTER 



and he carried the cruel engine about with him 

 for three days before the chain became so en- 

 tangled in an alder-root that he was able to 

 wrench himself free. Soon after he was shot 

 at by old Ikey, the wild-fowler, in the channel 

 connecting the Big and the Little Liddens. His 

 quickness in diving at the flash alone saved him, 

 for the man was a dead shot. One night he 

 came on a gang of poachers ' burning the reed ' 

 in the pool below the morass, and stood to watch 

 them, fascinated by the flare that lit up the 

 excited faces bending over the water. But 

 though scared by the sight of his enemies, he 

 went only a short distance out of his way to 

 avoid them, and soon after was chasing a salmon 

 in Moor Pool, killing in time to make a hurried 

 meal and reach the tarn before dawn. 



Long, arduous and generally vain was his 

 pursuit of the fresh -run fish ; but, mighty hunter 

 that he was, he was successful now and then, 

 and enjoyed a hard-earned feast. 



It was after such an achievement that the 

 bailiff stood a-stare at his tracks, and shouted to 

 the miller to come down to him. * What do 'ee 

 think of it V he asked. * Think of it ?' said the 

 miller, who had noticed only the remains of the 

 otter's banquet, * think of it ? You didn't holloa 



