A MORNING'S OTTER-HUNTING 31 



Meanwhile a number of the " field/' captained by a 

 veteran otter-hunter who boasts that he has never had 

 a twinge of rheumatism in his life, are sent down to 

 " stickle " (chain) a shallow part of the river. Beyond 

 the shallows is a long and deep reach, in which it would 

 be difficult for hounds to hunt their game if it once suc- 

 ceeded in making it. For some little time not a sound 

 or signal is given by the terrier underground, and the 

 other dog, having apparently quite recovered from his 

 recent immersion, is sent to see what is going on. 



" Hieu gaze ! hieu gaze ! " goes up from one of the 

 field who has been watching by the side of a deep dyke 

 running some two hundred yards distant from the main 

 river, and joining the same some little way below the 

 over-shoot, rings out above the roar of the waterfall. That 

 hollow has solved the subterranean mystery. The " holt " 

 leads into an old culvert through which, with the plucky 

 little terriers the first of which is subsequently found 

 to be badly mauled about the muzzle close on his heels, 

 or rather pads, the otter has escaped to the dyke. But 

 while we are " babbling " in this manner hounds strike 

 the trail again and commence to drive their quarry like 

 the deuce up the dyke and into the river. Now ensues 

 one of the best hunts it was ever my good luck to take a 

 part in, and for eleven miles that game otter leads us a 

 merry dance through lovely river scenery, while the 

 music is glorious and well-nigh incessant. 



More than once hounds run clean away from the field, 

 but, thanks to the checks which so frequently occur, in 

 otter-hunting, especially in deep and sluggish streams 

 like the water we are hunting to-day, those of the fol- 

 lowers who are keen, amongst them a baker's dozen of 



