,o hide again ; but the new-comers were only 

 __ _ two otter cubs that as yet had learned to 



* J catch only stupid chub and suckers. In a 



^G^rJ^jf J\5? moment they were out on the bank, crouched 

 jfr| with their long backs arched like frightened 

 cats, nibbling daintily at the salmon; while 

 Kopseep, forgetting all about them, roamed 

 boldly over the shallows, looking for a little 

 salmon to be his mate. 



He found her at last, preparing her nest 

 just below the mouth of the brook, and began 

 circling watchfully about her. Other grilse 

 were numerous, and in searching for a mate 

 they would enter his circle aggressively, as 

 if it were a chip that Kopseep was carrying 

 on his shoulder. Like a flash he would rush 

 at them, lock jaws, and tug and push and 

 bully them out of the circle. Then, when he 

 returned, he had to bite and gouge and drive 

 away the sea-trout — huge fellows, some of 

 them, as big as himself — that swarmed hun- 

 grily about, waiting for the feast of salmon 





eggs. 



It was late autumn ; the banks were 

 strangely still and white, and ice had formed 



Op' r -. i 



