THE BABBLERS DISCOVERED. 51 



" Something there in the night ! Yes, and in the 

 day too, — rats, cows, chickens, and children ; but not 

 an animal of chase. Take them up, or I cannot 

 attempt to hunt an otter." 



By this time these false old villains had disturbed 

 their industrious fleas, and had sat down to scratch in 

 silence. So the rejoinder made to me was : 



" Oh those hounds spoke from excitement, on being 

 just let out of their couples ; they won't do it again." 



" Won't they ? " I replied ; " I know better ; I have 

 seen quite enough to be well aware that the fault of 

 babbling, or telling lies, is a systematic one with 

 them ; but seeing is believing, and you shall convince 

 yourselves." 



By this time I had reached the bushes on the bank 

 of the stream, when gently, and in an under tone of 

 voice, I encouraged old Blossom and my terriers to 

 draw. Scarce a word had passed my lips, when off 

 set the two old liars again in full cry ; so I insisted on 

 their return home — when one of my kind friends 

 humoured me and returned them to their kennel. 



We then commenced to draw steadily and well, 

 except that Master Nip bowled into a young duck, 

 but without the touch of an otter. The otters had 

 been there, for on the banks in the grass, and on 

 an occasional old stump of a tree, there were the 



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