134 WITH HOUND AND TERRIER. 



not understanding that I wanted it, unfortunately 

 threw it away. 



That month I went out again with ten couple 

 of terriers, but drew the river blank as regards 

 otters, though the little pack consoled themselves 

 with the rats and moor - hens, and had a good 

 deal of fun. 



Early in February the following year (1892) 

 Mr Connop sent to me to say that there was 

 an otter at Fifehead Neville Mill near his house, 

 and he asked me to bring the terriers over and 

 try for him. This I did ; but the otter was not 

 at home, and, the water being bitterly cold, we 

 soon gave up the hunt. Again, in March that 

 year, I took nine couple of terriers and drew 

 up to the Fifehead drain ; but the otter was still 

 paying visits, and though we followed the stream 

 to Ibbertson, I could gain no tidings of him. 



On the 14th April we met at Buckshaw, and 

 with eight and a half couple drew the mill-pond. 

 Sharper soon marked one to ground, and hardly 

 had the spade been put in when out bolted a 

 large otter, and the fun soon became fast and 

 furious. The terriers forcing him through the 

 pond, he gave us a fine hunt, till finding it 

 getting too hot for him, though it was un- 

 pleasantly cold for us, as we waded backwards 

 and forwards, he took refuge under the stump 

 of a tree half- way down the steep high bank. 

 Little Floss, my house pet, letting herself cleverly 

 down from the top, was the first to reach him. 



