CH. XXXIV. OTTER-HUNTING. 223 



about amongst the snow and stones like lunatics, — 

 the otter darting from place to place, and showing 

 his face first in one corner and then in another. 



Donald found this would not do ; so he again 

 commenced moving the stones. Presently he called 

 out to me, " Keep private. Sir ! keep private ! the 

 brute is coming your gate!" Private I had kept 

 rom the moment he had stationed me, till my fingers 

 and feet were nearly frozen. Donald seized the 

 dog and held him to prevent his running in the way. 

 All this passed in a moment, and I saw the snow 

 heaving up above the otter, who was working 

 through it like a mole ; assisted, probably, by the 

 heather, which prevented it from being caked down 

 in a solid mass, as would have been the case on a 

 smooth field. I knew that he would appear at the 

 hole which we had stopped ; and therefore I did not 

 risk a shot at him. 



He worked on until he was close to the hole ; 

 when he emerged quietly and silently, and crept 

 towards the well-known place of refuge. On find- 

 ing it completely stopped up, the countenance of 

 the poor animal assumed a most bewildered expres- 

 sion of astonishment and fear ; and lifting himself 

 up on his hind legs, he looked round to ascertain 

 what had happened. On seeing me he made off" 

 towards the river, with as long leaps as the snow 



