[24 



Otters and Otter-Hunting. 



no reason why she should not join her ; and possibly 

 a third lady recollects an exciting bit of gossip which 

 she thinks would amuse the pair in front, and rushes 

 boldly on with flapping skirts and a shrill cry to 

 them to wait for her, until presently half the Field is 

 well ahead of hounds. 



The temptation to forge ahead is particularly 

 great upon a winding stream with perhaps not much 

 cover on its banks. While the Master is drawing 

 every inch of water hoping to pick up a drag across 

 the bends, the Field is trooping steadily across these 

 bends, perhaps a couple of hundred strong. If 

 hounds strike a drag and try to carry it over the 

 bend or into a back- ditch on the other side of 

 the meadow they find themselves in the midst of a 

 crowd of people, who have effectually foiled the 

 scent in their passage and rendered it impossible for 

 them to work it out. Therefore, the Field should 

 remain on the hither side of a bend until hounds 

 have very nearly worked round it. There is no 

 hurry in Otter-hunting, and those who walk most 

 slowly and stand still oftenest may be assured that 

 they will see most of the sport. 



Another annoying habit that some followers have 

 is that of not coming to the meet, but of motoring 

 or driving to some bridge a few miles up the stream 

 which hounds are drawing and walking along the 

 banks to meet them. Where people persist in doing 



