SIGHTS THE FOOTPRINTS 141 



The gun fell from his shoulder ; his jaw dropped ; 

 the eyes, but an instant before full of fire, were 

 dull and listless. He seemed inches shorter as 

 he staggered through the reeds and along the 

 gully towards a small enclosure about which the 

 banks rose almost sheer. 



' Niver can be in the Piskies' Parlour to be 

 sure ; and yet how could they get out V 



The words were scarcely out of his mouth 

 when his eyes fell on the fresh marks against the 

 face of the scarp. Then he saw the footprints 

 left on the snow by the otters as they sprang 

 to the lowest ledge. 



* Has the frost touched my brain, or the little 

 folks my eyes ? Nonsense ! nothin' of the kind ; 

 thee'rt seein' things as they are. Well, well,' 

 he went on after drawing a long breath, ' I've 

 been wanderin' about the ma'sh for wellnigh 

 fifty year, and come on many tracks, but never 

 prents like these. Lor mercy ! must be a mighty 

 big varmint as left 'em. What a catch if only I 

 could ha' bagged un !' 



The sight of the footprints had put fresh life 

 into him ; he determined to follow as far as he 

 could. 



1 I'm bone-tired, but I'll see it through if I 

 drop on the track.' 



