HAUNTS OF THE OTTER 57 



dare not plunge in, plucky as they are ; for they 

 knovved they'd be washed down and dashed into 

 the limbs of the fallen trees that lay in and across the 

 river. She got him over all right, and then they three 

 made for the alder copse. That's how I come to know 

 the distance they'll lay up in a bank.' 



' Had you a gun with you ? ' 



' No ; and if I had, it should never have gone to 

 my shoulder to fire at her, when she'd been so plucky 

 like. It 'd just have seemed like murder to me, for 

 all I killed them two just now. But you see it's like 

 this ; the head uns walk round and see some of their 

 leavings on the ground, and make a bit of a fuss about 

 it ; for some of 'em are fond of fishing. So just to 

 keep matters quiet, you must know, I'm obliged to 

 settle one or two when I have the chance. I don't 

 want to brag about my shootin', but if I do get a fair 

 sight at 'em they don't suffer much, for I always use a 

 cartridge. As far as myself is concerned, I should 

 never meddle with 'em ; but, you see, where there's 

 more 'an one master to please, you must mind your 

 P's and Q's, as they say.' 



' Just so, my friend ; that is the philosophical way 

 of looking at things.' 



He smiles, and bids me good-day. We have had 

 many a chat together, he and I, before this. 



