THE BOOK OF THE OTTER 



far off. If, instead of meeting early you had 



arrived at the water late, on the foregoing occasion, 



you would probably have hit off a weak or catchy 



drag, and have had to go slow, trying both banks 



carefully en route. If this happens on a stream 



which the Master knows well, and has often hunted 



before, he may simply cross and re-cross the water 



to the various holts from which he has put down 



otters on previous occasions. Should hounds 



refuse to mark at any of these holts, and the limit 



of the day's draw is reached, the result is a blank. 



The same thing may happen on a river which 



has not been hunted for a long time. The meet 



is late, hounds are left to pick up a drag if they 



can, the field following at their leisure, and once 



more it is a case of "nothing doing" at the 



conclusion of the draw. It is when an otter has 



left the main river via a side-stream, or travelled 



a long way overland to some pond, or other 



retreat, that the advantage of meeting early is so 



conspicuous. 



Late in the day the drag is very weak and 



86 



