180 THE LIFE STORY OF AN OTTER 



between two lily-leaves a few yards off. The 

 otter remained where he was until the hounds 

 were almost upon him; then he sank as noiselessly 

 as he had risen, and made for another refuge. 



* You viewed him, sir ?' 



* I viewed an otter, John.' 



' Then why didn't 'ee tally him, sir ?' 



' Because I'm not sure it's him. I don't want 

 to raise false hopes in all these people.' 



For by this time many had arrived, some by 

 boat, others in vehicles, some on horses or 

 donkeys, and had taken up stations round the 

 mere. There were at least a score on the point, 

 as many near the inflow : there was a tall thin 

 man who had somehow found his way to the 

 edge of the reed -bed, and quite a little crowd on 

 the bar. 



' Never see'd such a passel o' people here since 

 the wreck of the Triton, and that was afore your 

 time, sir. The casks of rum were all over the 

 beach, and men, too ; and as for the cocoanuts, 

 they were . . .' The outstretched hand of the 

 squire silenced him, for the otter had risen within 

 a few yards of the boat, and lay there showing 

 its great length. Both were tongue-tied by the 

 sight, but no sooner did the otter dive than the 

 squire gave utterance to a ' Tally-ho !' the like of 



