222 EXTRACTS FROM NOTE-BOOKS. CH. XXXIV. 



again, leaving a small round hole in the snow. We 

 carefully stopped up both entrances to this covered 

 way, and then Donald went on with the dog to 

 dislodge him from the cairn, having first given me 

 the strongest injunctions to " stand quite privately " 

 (i.e. quietly) a few yards from the hole which we 

 had just stopped up. The dog at first seemed little 

 inclined to leave me, but presently understanding 

 the service upon which he was to be employed, he 

 went off with Donald with right good will, putting 

 his nose every now and then into the tracks of 

 the otter in the snow, as if to ascertain how long- 

 it was since the animal had been there. 



They soon arrived at the cairn, which was of 

 no great extent, and not composed of very heavy 

 stones. After walking round it carefully, to see 

 whether there were any tracks farther on, Donald 

 sent on the dog, who almost immediately began to 

 bark, and scratch at a part of the cairn. Donald 

 was soon with him, and employed in moving the 

 stones, having laid down his gun for that purpose, 

 knowing that the otter was quite sure to make 

 straight for the place where I was standing, if he 

 could dislodge him. Presently the dog made a 

 headlong dive into the snow and stones, but drew 

 back as quickly with a sharp cry. In he went 

 again, however, his blood now well up ; but the 



