If we head the otter off, it will come down stream; for just see their slyness, the beggars! they always go above their burrow to feed, for, once full of fish, they know they can easily drift down, the sly things! Ha! if I'd been trained in their school I should be living now on an income; but I was a long time finding out that you must go up stream very early in the morning if you want to bag the game before others.

Well, somebody threw a spell over me when I was born.

However, we three together ought to be slyer than the otter." "How so, my old necromancer ?" "Why, bless you! we are as stupid as the beasts, and so we come to understand the beasts.

Now, see, this is what we'll do.

When the otter wants to get home Mouche and I'll frighten it here, and you'll frighten it over there; frightened by us and frightened by you it will jump on the bank, and when it takes to earth, it is lost! It can't run; it has web feet for swimming.