The otters seemed to know where they were going and distanced all
but the dog. Forgetting his own condition Skookum had almost
overtaken one of the otter cubs when the mother wheeled about
and, hissing and snarling, charged. Skookum was lucky to get off
with a slight nip, for the otter is a dangerous fighter. But the
unlucky dog was sent howling back to the two packs that he never
should have left.
The hunters now found an open stretch of woods through which
Quonab could run ahead and intercept the otters as they bounded
on down the stream bed, pursued by Rolf, who vainly tried to deal
a blow with his club. In a few seconds the family party was up
to Quonab, trapped it seemed, but there is no more desperate
assailant than an otter fighting for its young. So far from
being cowed the two old ones made a simultaneous, furious rush at
the Indian. Wholly taken by surprise, he missed with his club,
and sprang aside to escape their jaws. The family dashed around
then past him, and, urged by the continuous chirps of the mother,
they plunged under a succession of log jams and into a willow
swamp that spread out into an ancient beaver lake and were
swallowed up in the silent wilderness.
Pages:
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152