182 THE LIFE STORY OF AN OTTER 



terriers, had to force a way. Yet to him as to 

 them the atmosphere was suffocating, so that he 

 was glad to reach the upper edge and get a few 

 breaths of fresh air before the clamour of the 

 hounds and the crackling of the stems warned 

 him it was time to move. Then he made his 

 way down to the creek to quench his thirst. The 

 parson, by this time perched on the willow, saw 

 him lapping, but forbore to shout, and presently 

 the dark mask was withdrawn. Soon the hounds 

 reached the spot. Thirsty though they were, 

 they thirsted still more for the otter's blood. 

 Not one stayed to lap but, like infuriated crea- 

 tures, went on after the quarry whose distress 

 they must have been conscious of. 



Before this the crowd from the bar had moved 

 to the bluff above the creek, whence they could 

 trace the windings of the otter by the movements 

 of the hounds. Breathless was their excitement 

 when they saw from the wild shaking of the 

 bushes that the otter had been seized, and great 

 their disappointment when the resumption of 

 the chase showed that, after all, he had got 

 away. 



Twice more the gallant beast made the wide 

 circuit of those ten acres of furze in the hope of 

 shaking off his pursuers before he made his way 



