A MORNING'S OTTER-HUNTING 33 



the strip of green pasture-land which lies sandwiched 

 between the brook and the river. 



Those of the followers who possess sufficient stamina 

 to stay the " burst " take a diagonal line across-country 

 and arrive on the bank of the river just in time to see 

 the otter pulled down on the edge of a tiny osier-grown 

 islet standing in the middle of the stream. 



Half-wading and half-swimming through the breast- 

 high water, a whipper-in bears the otter ashore, the 

 hounds swimming all round him. The last obsequies 

 are performed over our gallant quarry, but there are 

 some of us, I trow, who wish that game otter had lived 

 to run another day. 



