194 "The little urCs biggest." Ohapt. xv. 



"following its master to the place, entered the water and 

 "immediately dived, when we could follow his track as 

 "he hunted below by the long string of bubbles, ('bells', 

 "as otter hunters term them) which, coming from his nose, 

 "marked his passage. In a short time there was no 

 "doubt as to 'a find', as the rush and troubled state of 

 "the surface too plainly indicated, for it was like two ex- 

 "press trains in full chase of each other. All this lasted 

 "but a short time, say about half a minute and the ex- 

 "ertion and coldness of the water, etc. seemed to take a 

 "good deal out of the animal, for he not only came up 

 "to breathe but landed, and after rolling himself, which 

 "they delight in doing 'time being up', in he went again 

 "at the word of command. Many rounds like this took 

 "place, the pike always breaking away, until it was vari- 

 "ed by the capture of a carp, the head of which he was 

 "allowed to eat. His appetite seemed whetted by this, 

 "for he became very eager, and whenever he came across 

 "the pike a great struggle took place, but the big fish 

 "seemed such a monster that he could not worry him, 

 "yet by the aid of his feet, he turned him over once, but 

 "never brought him to the top, though the otter's tail 

 "often waved above water. Up to this time behind the 

 "fish's head was the part attacked,' his great and power- 

 fully armed jaws being avoided, but now the fish was 

 "evidently growing weaker, and the otter changing his 

 "tactics by attacking the enemy in the rear. Each round 

 "told in favor of the otter, and finally 'the sponge was 

 "thrown up' by the beaten fish being towed to. land by 



