OTTER-HUNTING 



abouts and the doings of otters. Their tracks will 



be plain enough in the snow, and by following 



these footprints a knowledge of the various routes 



traversed by otters will be gained, and many a long 



forgotten drain or other hiding-place discovered. 



The lessons thus learnt will come in mighty useful 



when the hunting season again begins. When 



thus scouting his country, he should not forget to 



drop in at the mill, or the various farmsteads near 



the river. The miller can be a good friend, or, 



if he likes, a bad enemy, and the same applies to 



farm-hands, and other people who work on the 



land. A chat with the farmer and his wife goes 



a long way towards smoothing the ground for 



hunting, and a friendly word and a pipe of baccy 



with the river-watchers and labourers ensures 



amicable relations, and paves the way towards 



encouraging an interest in hounds and hunting. 



It is the Master who is thus on the job in winter 



as well as summer who gets plenty of good walks 



for his puppies, and is free to hunt when and where 



he likes during the season. On his journeys he 



95 



