82 FROM SPRING TO FALL. 



the otters have their own way here, and they have 

 had the large fish on their spawning-beds and in 

 their submerged root sanctuaries ; and eels are now 

 scarce. Who can wonder at it ! Recently the otters 

 have drawn as close to man and his works as rats. 

 Leading from the bridge that spans the tumbling 

 bay of the pool, rushing floods have washed the path 

 away. This, some time back, was remedied by fixing 

 railway sleepers, in the most solid manner, so as to 

 form a platform from the pool bridge to the fields 

 beyond. One moonlight night, a wanderer crossing 

 from the fields saw what he at first sight took to be 

 three of the mill cats at play, cutting high jinks ; 

 directly he reached the platform, he saw at once 

 they were otters. All this close to the mill-house, 

 and where people are passing day and night. Even 

 the miller laughed and was incredulous when he was 

 told that they were close to him. But he does not 

 smile now, for not only have they cleared off all the 

 large fish, but they have had the moor-hens and 

 rabbits as well, to say nothing about the water-voles. 

 It used to be said that this water smelt of fish ; the 

 scent has now left it, for a time at any rate. 



I know where they come from, and where they 



