128 THE LIFE STORY OF AN OTTER 



more snow fell, obliterating the tracks, and 

 spreading a coverlet over mother and young 

 where they slumbered in the deep nest. The 

 mother's light sleep Vas broken by the creaking 

 of the windlass over the well and the quacking 

 of the marshman's ducks, but both sounds, under 

 the muffling effect of the snow, seemed to come 

 from far beyond the cottage. The quacking of 

 the ducks was so tantalizing to the famished 

 creature that she actually left the nest and, with 

 just the arch of her back showing above the 

 snow, stole towards the spot whence the noise 

 proceeded. On and on she forged her way, and 

 actually advanced to within gunshot of the 

 duck-house. Then her courage failed her, and 

 caused her to retreat along the furrow she had 

 made. 



She was afoot again at early nightfall, joined 

 her mate and followed him to the shore. After 

 they had fished far and wide to no purpose 

 she turned to him with a distracted look that 

 meant, ' Whither now V For answer he shifted 

 his gaze from her face towards the cottage ; and 

 when, after some hesitation, he moved towards 

 it, she understood, and took her place at his 

 heels. They passed very near the nest — near 

 enough indeed to catch, despite the loud rustling 



