FISHING THROUGH THE ICE. 207 
away from the males to rear her young, follows up the brook, 
and in some hollow log or more often at the knoll beneath the 
pine stub, close to the brook and among the larger roots, 
goes down, and then up and under, and there makes her nest. 
Here close beside the brook, her little ones can play out in the 
rain or sunshine, and as soon as old enough, are taught the 
art they are to follow, by practising upon the small trout. 
The mink also seeks the same places for the like purpose, 
and for the same delicacy for its little ones, as well as the 
otter to hide them from the males, who would destroy them 
if possible. 
As the little trout grows a bit bigger, they move down 
along, settling in a new home for awhile, but are soon seek- 
ing a little wider, deeper water, again growing tired 
of their small pool and having the growing appetite; down 
they go to lower, deeper holes in the small brook, when at 
the last, feeling big, bold and brave, gay and frisky (being 
about the size for the small boy’s fun) and when a little roiled 
up and excited with the late freshet, they follow on behind 
after the late spawning trout, eventually shooting out into the 
larger waters among their older brothers. 
