Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-11-24
HUNTING THE OTTER.
HOW THE SPORT IS CARRIED
ON in ENGLAND.
sport with the Hounds Unknown In
Amerlca-The start at Five In the
Morning swimming for Life Game
to the Last.

the weather. Getting up at 5 is un-
comfortable; the cold damp air rushing
in makes it still more so.
We close the window with a snap.
But after '.tubn and brisk rub
down the fever Of expectancy seizes
us, and by the time we get down TO
breakfast we are ready 10 beat our
best. The ladies', not to be deferred
by the early hour, soon Join us, those
who intend to follow the hunt dressed
in becoming costumes of dark colors,
with shortened skirts, thick-sOled
shoes and dainty leather CATERS. Sand
witch cases are filed, alpenstocks or
good stout sticks are laid hold OF as
one may choose. and we are ready
Just here our chum, Lowe, steals a
march on us and carries OIL the good
looking Miss Sayle, pleasure We
thought to reserve TO ourselves, in a
high dog-cart, But, casting aside re-
greet, we climb to our hosts coach,
drawn by four bright bays, and are
fooled to the meet in most entertaining
company over ten miles Of excellent
roads The sun soon gladdens Us
with his CHEEKY rays, beneath which
the dewdrops sparkle and die and the
light mist low down on the meadows
gradually rolls away.
The hounds are Just behind as,
says our host, swinging himself down
from his box seat, and soon We are
gathered round the pack of beauties,
who, with true good breeding allow
themselves to BE- patted aud carcssed
with evident pleasure. why, lugle,
we exclaim, these are foxhounds,
and learn that the handsome otter
hound (of which we find two IN the
pack on further scrutiny with his
rough, shaggy coat aud beautiful eye
is too musical on the scent. That
bell-like voice of his il apt TO speak
without full warrant, and 30, as he has
tendency to throw his tongue too
freely, foxhOunds replace him. While
we move up stream towards Barnard
Towers we learn how quiet and unOb-
trusive the otter Is, taking q Dracticed
eye to discover his haunt, a nocturnal
prowler and a perfect glntton Tor fish.
How he will travel many miles al night
il badly disturbed BY hounds, ana pcr-
haps never stop until he reaches the
sea. Turning up tributary stream
the master takes long cast, and with
beating hearts we watch the hounds.
now on this bank, now on that. cover
ing every inch of ii, and soon a hound
far in the lead gives voice. then an
other and another, until the whole
pack joins In the chorus. and We find
ourselves scrambliug along over bowl
ders and everything else that comes
IN our way. slipping down steep banks.
wadtng through the shadows. keeping
watchful eye on the struggling dogs
in front that threaten every moment
to leave us behind.
We have a confused recollection 81
witnessing Miss Sayle with her nlpsn-
stock take an open ditch beautifully.
when the deep bayiug 81 the hounds
proclaims the game j. ia some way
cornered. But very soon ne has II
lently slipped away again. ana d
watcher shows us where, a little fur.
Their up, he has left the stream srfre
enough, We find his .,seaI. or foot.
print. on the soft bank easily distin.
guishable from q dogs. as he has Ave
toes. The hounds race him over tho
fields, and we feel heartily glad when
we are advised to cut across an ap0le
formed by a deep bend of the river.
toward which the pack Is taking a
straight line.
He is sure to 20 down stream II he
reaches il, " We are informed. and W.
are fortunate enough to reach there
just as the hounds come swimming
down through deep pool, picking ur,
the scent from the top 81 the water
with such suppressed excitement ~
area sure our quarry Il very close
at hand
There he goes, tally-ho,~ And
the Aattish head appears on the ma.
face, going down the stream al a trc-
mendous pace.
He is swimming for his life now bnt
alas, for his gallant effort. hounds ANA
men are closing on him fast, and 4 IN
tie further down in the broadenino,
shallow Of the river we line IN IN tbs
stream as the hounds flash to the limo
But he eludes them yet. The old dog
otter Is as game as anything that lives
and hither and thither he darts with
lightning rapidity, and soon there q a
yelp, while thin tinge Of red dulIa
the water where some too venturesorna
hound has felt the sharp snap Of MI
razor-like teeth. Now up stream
now down stream, goes on the nm.
equal fight, while the hounds deen
baying rings out musical chalIenge
that only nerves the otter to greater
efforts. And now he breaks awav
down stream, heading straight for an
open drain in the bank. place he has
slept In many summers NIGHT nm
noticed and undisturbed.
"There he goes, look out below
there" Is shouted by score Of voices
and the master, taking TO the bapk
PUSHES down towards the draw. boning
to ''tail' him, q feat, by the wav. we
have never seer done IL consists e.
Selling the otter by the tail and with q
quick jerk landing him ON the bank
for the hounds 10 finish. But almost
L.