144 THE LIFE STORY OF AN OTTER 



Less than a dozen yards of cover remained 

 when the old man, in his anxiety to get a glimpse 

 of the otter, knelt down and peeped through the 

 stems. Only the head of the otter showed, but 

 the eyes of man and beast met. Before the 

 marshman could regain his feet, the creature 

 had bolted, making wild leaps in its attempt to 

 escape. Bang ! bang I first one barrel, then the 

 other; and the old man, who believed he had 

 wounded the animal, started in mad pursuit. 

 For a few strides he actually gained on the short- 

 legged creature : but for want of breath he might 

 have overtaken it. As it was, all he could do 

 after covering a score yards was to lament his 

 helplessness, and watch the huge dark form draw 

 farther and farther away. * What a grand beast !' 

 he gasped again and again ; then suddenly, * He's 

 down !' he exclaimed, starting to run. But the 

 otter was not down : not a pellet had struck him : 

 he was only lost to sight in a drift. When he 

 reappeared near the bar, the excited marshman 

 saw his error, and once more stood to watch. 

 On reaching the ridge the otter ran along it, 

 showing his magnificent proportions. Once he 

 stopped to look back at his enemy ; a few 

 moments later he disappeared from view, and the 

 old man turned on his heel and made for home. 



