So, it was plainly a trap.
Waving his great bushy tail complaisantly, he tiptoed off to hunt rabbits, pleased with the notion that somebody else was going to get taken in.
"The youngsters stayed where they were, close beside the water.

The first glimmer of dawn, striking on the misty surface of the pool outside, struggled up into the den.

The youngsters turned to greet it, with the thought, perhaps, that it was time to go fishing.

Just at this moment the mink, who had been looking for the remnants of his trout where he had left them on the bank (he was a fool, of course, ever to have left them there), came diving into the deep front door of the den to avenge himself on the unprotected little ones.

His slim black form was visible as it rose through the greying water.