THE MATING OF BROWNIE 197 
ness of danger in so doing. The enemies 
Brownie knew were dogs and such on land, and 
fish-hooks under the ice in winter, and he no 
longer feared either. Yet that trail was to prove 
fatal, for it was seen by the man whose hound 
Brownie had killed, and seen at almost the exact 
spot where the fight had occurred. Thus the 
man knew this was a regular otter crossing. He 
went home and got a trap. 
It was several days later that Brownie and his 
family returned over the trail. The snow had 
partly melted now, but there was still enough in 
the woods so they could toboggan, and they were 
having a great good time descending the slope. 
Brownie had, for once, gone off the trail a few 
feet to investigate something which interested 
him—it was a ruffed grouse nestled in a bed of 
dead leaves, and he wasn’t quick enough to catch 
it, only to send it whirring off through the trees 
with a startling sound which caused the two 
young otters to jump. Mother Otter had slid 
on ahead, being intent on getting back to water, 
and suddenly she gave a cry of pain and Brownie, 
springing to her, found her fast in the grip of a 
