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CHAPTER VIL 



THE OTTER IN THE LYD. 



In the early summer of 1888 an amusing scene was 

 enacted on the banks of the small stream that 

 runs into the mill-pond at Fifehead Neville. The 

 presence of an otter in the waters had been re- 

 ported, and to leave him without making a try for 

 his capture was too much for those keen sportsmen, 

 Mr Connop and Mr Surtees. Collecting a scratch 

 pack of two of their own terriers, some contribu- 

 tions from the neighbouring farmers, and the 

 lurcher and terrier from the mill, the two gentle- 

 men set to work. The lurcher, however, had to be 

 reckoned with, and he resented the intrusion of the 

 party on his home domains. He consequently 

 attacked one of the terriers, who was not slow in 

 responding to the hostile demonstration ; the other 

 terriers joined in, and a free fight was soon in pro- 

 gress. The would-be huntsmen saw their hopes 

 dashed to the ground, and had to turn their atten- 

 tion to restoring order in their pack, a task they 

 found by no means easy. 



In the meantime the otter, feeling no security in 



