And in their play they kept very close to the water's edge, in case the fox should happen along to inquire after their parents.
"The fox did not turn up.

But after some time they caught sight of a great, dark bird winnowing his way slowly above the tree tops.

Just to be on the safe side, they got into the water so quickly that one of them, to save time, threw himself in backwards.

They did not know that it was only a fishhawk, an amiable soul, quite indifferent to such delicacies as young otters.

Another thing they did not know was that if the fishhawk _had_ wanted them, he could have caught them more comfortably in the water than on shore.
"When the great bird was well out of sight they started off down stream, partly to have another look for their lost parents, partly because they had nothing better to do.