184 THE LIFE STORY OF AN OTTER 



* What does he scale, sir V shouted a score 

 excited voices. 



1 Twenty-nine pounds good.' 



Then followed a tumult of conversation, amidst 

 which could be distinguished : 



'Now, Thomas 'Enery, what did I say all 

 along ?' 



' He's a pound over and above your guess.' 



* Sandy was right.' 



'You said forty pound, Geordie, you know 

 you did.' 



' You'm a liard ; I ' 



' Silence, mates !' roared the landlord, stepping 

 into the ring ; ' the squire wants to spake. Silence, 

 I say !' 



When the noisy groups of disputants at last 

 quieted down, the squire, hoarse from his efforts, 

 said : ' It is my custom, as you know, to distribute 

 the pads, mask and rudder, and fling the carcass to 

 the hounds. To-day, however, I mean to depart 

 from the rule. I will tell you why, and I hope 

 every one of you will agree that I am right. My 

 view is that this fine beast ' — and here he lifted 

 the otter clear of the sand as if to emphasize his 

 words — ' which has excited so much interest and 

 afforded a hunt we can never expect to see the 

 like of, ought not to be broken up, but should be 



