114 THE LIFE STORY OF AN OTTER 



stranger flashed by, the otter saw that both ears 

 were torn and that he was otherwise scarred by 

 fighting. Later the two animals passed and 

 repassed one another on the surface, and towards 

 dawn, when the otter made for his couch, the 

 new-comer crossed the beach towards the cliffs. 



That night the otter, whilst calling from the 

 Seal Rock, heard a rival call from far away across 

 the water in the direction of the Shark's Fin. 

 Later the cry came from the cliffs below Cold 

 Comfort Farm, and close on cockcrow from the 

 clitter where he himself had called an hour before. 

 Every minute he expected the stranger to round 

 the bluff and cross the bar, and presently he saw 

 him come over the pebble ridge and slip into the 

 mere. It was the otter of the night before, who 

 passed down the creek, landed opposite the island, 

 and lay up under the furze. 



At nightfall both otters, apparently on good 

 terms, were fishing near the inflow, when the 

 shrill summons of a female reached their ears 

 and set them aflame with passion. They swam 

 as fast as their legs could propel them to the 

 spot whence the call proceeded, and as soon as 

 the otter had landed and licked the face of the 

 skittish little creature awaiting the rivals, he 

 turned to face his enemy. Like two furies they 



