The Little Pang 31 



full of movement, of ecstasy in the awakened 

 spring. Following the windings of the 

 stream, we came to a rustic wooden bridge, 

 and leaning over noted the first moving trout. 

 He was occasionally sucking-in an olive 

 dun. Getting behind the fish and on the 

 opposite bank, I sent across to him a fine 

 imitation of the natural fly which was 

 coming on in small quantities. He rose 

 instantly, but missed ; and after this nothing 

 would induce him to look at either natural 

 or artificial again. Turning our steps again 

 up stream after this slight repulse, we were 

 suddenly startled by a great splashing and 

 shouting, an unwelcome and very unexpected 

 warning of an otter-hunt at hand, and in a 

 few minutes, sure enough, by us they came, 

 a motley crew of dogs and men of high and 

 low degree — chiefly, it seemed, the latter. 

 The hunt soon swept past, being bound for 

 a point several miles up stream, where, it was 

 rumoured in the neighbourhood, an otter, or 

 at least the remains of an otter feast, had 

 been lately seen. All hope of sport for an 



