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The stream began to descend more quickly until it was in a long；
narrow valley with steep clay sides and many pools。 Here they
saw again and again the tracks and signs of otter and coming
quietly round a turn that opened a new reach they heard a deep
splash； then another and another。
The hunters' first thought was to tie up Skookum； but a glance
showed that this was unnecessary。 They softly dropped the packs
and the sick dog lay meekly down beside them。 Then they crept
forward with hunter caution； favoured by an easterly breeze。
Their first thought was of beaver； but they had seen no recent
sign； nor was there anything that looked like a beaver pond。 The
measured splash； splash； splash was not so far ahead。 It might
be a bear snatching fish； or no； that was too unpleasant a
man baling out a canoe。 Still the slow splash； splash； went on
at intervals； not quite regular。
Now it seemed but thirty yards ahead and in the creek。
With the utmost care they crawled to the edge of the clay and
opposite they saw a sight but rarely glimpsed by man。 Here were
six otters； two evidently full…grown； and four seeming young of
the pair； engaged in a most hilarious and human game of tobogganing
down a steep clay hill to plump into a deep part at its foot。
Plump went the largest； presumably the father； down he went； to
reappear at the edge； scramble out and up an easy slope to the
top of the twenty…foot bank。 Splash； splash； splash； came three
of the young ones； splash； splash； the mother and one of the cubs
almost together。
〃Scoot〃 went the big male again； and the wet furslopping and
rubbing on the long clay chute made it greasier and slipperier
every time。
Splash； plump； splash splash； plump； splash； went the otter
family gleefully； running up the bank again； eager each to be
first； it seemed； and to do the chute the oftenest。
The gambolling grace； the obvious good humour； the animal
hilarity of it all； was absorbingly amusing。 The trappers gazed
with pleasure that showed how near akin are naturalist and
hunter。 Of course； they had some covetous thought connected with
those glossy hides； but this was September still； and even otter
were not yet prime。 Shoot； plump； splash； went the happy crew
with apparently unabated joy and hilarity。 The slide improved
with use and the otters seemed tireless； when all at once a loud
but muffled yelp was heard and Skookum； forgetting all caution；
came leaping down the bank to take a hand。
With a succession of shrill； birdy chirps the old otters warned
their young。 Plump； plump； plump； all shot into the pool； but to
reappear； swimming with heads out； for they were but slightly
alarmed。 This was too much for Quonob； he levelled his flintlock；
snap； bang； it went； pointed at the old male； but he dived at the
snap and escaped。 Down the bank now rushed the hunters；
joined by Skookum； to attack the otters in the pool； for it was
small and shallow； unless a burrow led from it； they were trapped。
But the otters realized the peril。 All six dashed out of the
pool； down the open； gravelly stream the old ones uttering loud
chirps that rang like screams。 Under the fallen logs and brush
they glided； dodging beneath roots and over banks； pursued by the
hunters； each armed with a club and by Skookum not armed at all。
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。
Chapter 26。 Back to the Cabin
The far end of the long swamp the stream emerged； now much
larger； and the trappers kept on with their work。 When night
fell they had completed fifty traps； all told； and again they
camped without shelter overhead。
Next day Skookum was so much worse that they began to fear for
his life。 He had eaten nothing since the sad encounter。 He
could drink a little； so Rolf made a pot of soup； and when it was
cool the poor doggie managed to swallow some of the liquid after
half an hour's patient endeavour。
They were now on the home line； from a hill top they got a
distant view of their lake； though it was at least five miles
away。 Down the creek they went； still making their deadfalls at
likely places and still seeing game tracks at the muddy spots。
The creek came at length to an extensive； open； hardwood bush；
and here it was joined by another stream that came from the
south； the two making a small river。 From then on they seemed in
a land of game； trails of deer were seen on the ground
everywhere； and every few minutes they started one or two deer。
The shady oak wood itself was flanked and varied with dense cedar
swamps such as the deer love to winter in； and after they had
tramped through two miles of it； the Indian said； 〃Good！ now we
know where to come in winter when we need meat。〃
At a broad； muddy ford they passed an amazing number of tracks；
mostly deer； but a few of panther； lynx； fisher； wolf； otter； and
mink。
In the afternoon they reached the lake。 The stream； quite a
broad one here； emptied in about four miles south of the camp。
Leaving a deadfall near its mouth they followed the shore and
made a log trap every quarter mile just above the high water
mark。
When they reached the place of Rolf's first deer they turned
aside to see it。 The gray jays had picked a good deal of the
loose meat。 No large animal had troubled it； and yet in the
neighbourhood they found the tracks of both wolves and foxes；
〃Ugh；〃 said Quonab； 〃they smell it and come near； but they know
that a man has been here； they are not very hungry； so keep away。
This is good for trap。〃
So they made two deadfalls with the carrion half way between
them。 Then one or two more traps and they reached home； arriving
at the camp just as darkness and a heavy rainfall began。
〃Good；〃 said