The Earthstopper’s words convey some idea of the subtle and wary2 habits of this nomad3 of our fauna4, which conceals5 its existence so well that its presence generally escapes observation in districts where it is not hunted.
This is partly due to its having no conspicuous7 holts like the fox or badger8, being content in its wanderings with such lodgings9 as stone drains, hollow river banks and marshy11 hovers13, all which are as well known to the tribe of otters14 frequenting a district as wayside camping-grounds are to the gipsies.
In West Cornwall, where the sources of the streams are but four or five miles from the sea, the otters’ quarters by day are, for the most part, crevices15 and caverns16 in those mighty17 granite18 cliffs that keep watch and ward19 over the Atlantic.
Thence it sallies out when the twilight20 of its holt deepens into darkness, to raid the trout21, and fearful of couching inland, rarely fails to steal back to its stronghold with the last shades of night, vanishing from moorland and coombe like a spectre before the dawn.
Tactics of this kind, well devised though they are for the creature’s safety, are fatal to sport; and as the meet at the lake drew near, Andrew kept turning over in his mind how he could circumvent22 them.
To induce an otter to lie up near this favourite fishing-ground, Sir Bevil, who was a keen otter-hunter, gave orders that, to keep the lake quiet, no one but the Earthstopper was to go near it.
He, however, might have been seen there once soon after daybreak, stealing noiselessly round the margin23 as if he feared to awaken24 the spirit of the place, bending over the sand of the little bays and the skirts of the marshy ground to find track of the game. Years of such work and the love for his craft had so sharpened his keen, quick eyes that the faintest trace of bird or beast could hardly escape their restless glance. Not, however, until he had made his way round the creeks25 and crept under the rhododendrons fringing the bank, did he light on the object of his quest.
The footprints were clearly marked on the bare ground beneath the low branches, and impressed the Earthstopper as he stooped to examine them in the sombre light, not so much by their unusual size as by a defect in one of the prints, showing that the middle claw of one forefoot was missing. This would make it easy for him to identify the track and so aid him in finding out whether the otter had gone down the coombe to the sea.
Few sportsmen looking down at the lake, in its setting of wild hills, would dream that the poacher, after its night’s work, would trouble to seek the shelter of some distant sea-cave rather than lie up in the snug27 reedy hovers skirting the creeks.
Tol Pedn Penwith. [Face page 38.
But the Earthstopper knew better. Too often had he seen the hounds follow the trail of an otter down to the edge of the tide, to feel sanguine28 that it harboured near the lake. Already, indeed, he was fearing, as he forced his way back through the wild luxuriant growth, that it had returned to the cliffs.
How those cliffs haunted him! Did he catch sight of an otter’s seal shortly before a meet, as surely would the picture of the great granite walls with their impregnable fissures29 and caverns obtrude30 as it did then.
Leaving the lake, he followed its overflow31 down the valley, examining the banks of the stream carefully, yet dreading32 to come across a trace of the beast. You would have thought he had caught sight of an adder33, had you seen him start back when he found the downward track in the low-lying plantation34 under Castle Horneck. It was on the bank just above a high waterfall which it would seem had caused the creature to land, but from there to the beach no trace could he find, though he spent hours in the search. It was possible, he thought, that to conceal6 its line of retreat, the wily creature might have gone down to the sea along the bed of the stream. This view would perhaps have gained on him, but that in its lowest reach the sluggish35 water nearly circles round a meadow, and the otter must have taken, as is its wont36, the short cut across the neck of the bend, and in so doing must have left its tracks in the marshy ground there.
Another solution occurred to him. It was by no means improbable that the creature was laid up in the plantation; for not only does human foot seldom disturb the sylvan37 quiet there, but in an angle of the stream, just below the waterfall, under a tall elm there is as inviting38 a hover12 as nature’s sappers can tempt39 the eye of otter with.
Floods have bared the gnarled and twisted roots and hollowed out the ground behind them, so that the backwater on the edge of the swirling40 stream extends far under the bank, and is lost in the gloom it casts. It was almost by chance that he discovered, a few days before the meet, traces of the otter, that left no doubt as to its line of retreat. He was standing41 in the plantation at the time, aglow42 with excitement from having seen the fresh seal of an otter a little way above in Lezingey Croft, and debating with himself whether he should again follow the stream to the sea, when his eye fell on some moist marks that were fast drying and only visible in a certain light, on a flat rock half hidden by creepers. Faintest indication though it was, it furnished a clue to the line taken by an otter, and though there was no trace of footprints in the gap in the boundary wall above, the Earthstopper felt sure that the poacher had within the hour passed up the hill on its way to the Newlyn stream which flows down the adjacent valley.
Thither43 he went at once, and after a long, fruitless search began to think, though against his better judgment44, that the otter, if it had reached that stream, must have gone up the water towards Buryas and not down towards the sea.
Fortunately he persevered45, and there just below a sudden bend, on a deposit of silt46, was the cleanly-cut footprint, showing the defect he had first noticed under the bushes at the head of the lake. Before him was convincing evidence of the difficulty of tracking the creature he was pitting his brains against, for its path on leaving the shelter of an overgrown ditch lay among some wild iris47 whose leaves met above, screening all the footprints but the solitary48 one on the mud. This would have been washed out had the mills up the valley been thus early at work, and even as it was, a tiny wave from time to time lapped the silt as if striving to erase49 the tell-tale print. Holding back the flags to get a clear view, the Earthstopper gazed long at the beaten path, heedless of the brambles that tore his fingers, or of the stream that swirled50 around his feet.
“The auld51 game es et, Maister Sloper? laast night a robbin’ the trout, thes mornin’ curled up saafe and sound in the cleeves of the rocks. Ah, you rascal53, ef et keeps me up all night, I’ll be even wyee yit.”
On his way home Andrew called at the Castle to report to Sir Bevil what he had seen, and to tell him what he had made up his mind to do, namely, to try and prevent the otter returning to the cliffs.
“I leave the matter in your hands, Andrew,” said the Squire54, “my only fear is that if it comes up, and the chances are that it won’t, it may wind you in your hiding-place and be scared back. However, you know best about that. You won’t go over the ground again, I suppose?”
“No, sir, I shudden wonder ef I’ve bin52 wance too often as et es; but I couldn’t keep away.”
“Is it the seal of a good otter?”
“The biggest I ever seed.”
“Sorry to hear he’s been in a trap; you’ve no idea, I suppose.”
“Noane at all, sir.”
All the way across the heather to his cottage, Andrew thought of what the Squire had said, but reflection did not shake the confidence he felt in his plan. More than once, when he had lain hidden on the bank of the stream, an otter had swum past within a few feet of him without betraying the least alarm. Of course, he had kept as still as death. Almost in the twinkling of an eye the Earthstopper can become as rigid55 as a rock, and so disarm56 the suspicion of the shyest of wild creatures, provided they don’t get wind of him. He is in sight of his cottage now, but he is still defending his plan against the Squire.
“Well, ’spose the wust, say eh is skeared, what do it matter? Hee’d be back in they theere cliffs long afore the hounds could come anist un, an’ I’ll warn ee, with a bellyful of the Squire’s trout.”
Rightly or wrongly, he determined57 to try to head the otter back, and even first to lie in ambush58 and see it pass on its way to the lake. But where?
It was this he was considering as he sat smoking his pipe over a glass of beer in the parlour of the “One and All,” the morning before the meet. Save for Vennie, who was curled up under the window seat, he was all alone. Not that “Maddern” men don’t like a glass of beer, but the leisure hours of an Earthstopper are not those of ordinary toilers; so that he had nothing to break in on his thoughts but the tinkle59 of the blacksmith’s anvil60, and the clear tenor61 voice of the parson who was trying over some chants in his study behind the shrubbery. Sitting there, the Earthstopper could see, as though it lay spread before him, the tranquil62 lake, its tiny bays and miniature headlands, the silver thread of the stream as it flows through croft, woodland, orchard63 and meadow on its way to the sea, and every overhanging tree and bordering bush.
What memories intruded64 on his thoughts as he searched the banks for an ambush! how vivid were those of long ago!
In a patch of furze near the stepping-stones he had found a long-tailed tit’s nest when he was a lad; in the dark pool under the bridge a big trout had carried away his hook and two strands65 of new gut66; under the spray from the water falling from the wheel, during the great flood, he had caught his only salmon67 peal68; between the apple blossoms that nearly kissed across the mill stream his young eyes had first followed the flight of a kingfisher.
Skipping the rising ground between the coombes, he lit on the track on the silt, and instantly he reproached himself, as he had done again and again, for having, in a moment of excitement, held the leaves of the iris and tainted69 them with human scent70.
Lamorna Mill. [Face page 44.
At last he pitched on an ambush which seemed likely to favour his vigil if the otter should chance to come up, unless the moon should be clouded over, or the wind chop round when the sun went down.
It lay on the bank of the stream midway between the lake and the plantation, and from it he could command the otter’s line of approach. Let it not be thought, however, that he had no misgivings71 about his ability to confine the wily varmint to the lake, even should it pass him without suspecting his presence. No one is more familiar with its resources when danger threatens; but the sting of past failures and the wish to be even with the elusive72 creature, above all, his anxiety to provide sport for the hunt, urged him to attempt the almost impossible task he had set himself. No doubt some will say he was over zealous73, and complain—and with some show of reason—that he did not engage a score of helpers, who could have formed a ring round the lake and at a given signal have made noisy demonstrations74. Those who take this view would, of a surety, condemn75 him at once, did they but know the fame of “Maddern” men for beating tin cans when the bees are swarming76.
The Earthstopper, it is true, did contemplate77 calling in their aid, only however to dismiss the idea from his mind; not because of any dearth78 of old kettles and pans, but through an experience of a year ago at Marazion Marsh10, since which disastrous79 night—an otter broke through the line where two men lay asleep—he has “thought slight” of Gulval men, for all their skill in smelting80 tin and cutting early broccoli81. But this tale must be chronicled elsewhere. There were, however, other allies on whom he felt that he could depend, and these he meant to make use of.
That afternoon, he paid a visit to Nute, the huntsman; and had you been standing by the smithy at the corner of the village street when the school children were going home, you would have seen Andrew coming with leisurely82 stride along the lane leading to the kennels83, with a big lantern in each hand, and the mouth of a hunting-horn lifting the flap of the side pocket of his velveteen coat. He had learnt to blow that horn as a kennel-boy, when he was little bigger and less educated than the boys that crowded round and plied84 him with questions.
Good-natured, if evasive, were his replies about his use for the lanterns now that earthstopping was long over.
Slowly up the street past the chute, where a woman was filling a pitcher85, went the group, getting smaller and smaller as the boys reached their doors, until Andrew and Vennie were alone as they took the footpath86 that led across the heather to his cottage.
Over “a dish o’ taa and a bit of saffern caake,” he amused his grandchild with a tale of his boyhood, recalled by a dent26 in the old horn he had placed on the table.
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1
otter
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| n.水獭 | |
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2
wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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nomad
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| n.游牧部落的人，流浪者，游牧民 | |
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fauna
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| n.(一个地区或时代的)所有动物，动物区系 | |
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conceals
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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badger
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| v.一再烦扰，一再要求，纠缠 | |
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lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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marsh
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| n.沼泽，湿地 | |
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marshy
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| adj.沼泽的 | |
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hover
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| vi.翱翔，盘旋；徘徊；彷徨，犹豫 | |
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hovers
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| 鸟( hover的第三人称单数 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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otters
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| n.（水）獭( otter的名词复数 )；獭皮 | |
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crevices
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| n.（尤指岩石的）裂缝，缺口( crevice的名词复数 ) | |
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caverns
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| 大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 ) | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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trout
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| n.鳟鱼；鲑鱼(属) | |
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circumvent
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| vt.环绕，包围；对…用计取胜，智胜 | |
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margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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creeks
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| n.小湾( creek的名词复数 )；小港；小河；小溪 | |
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dent
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| n.凹痕，凹坑；初步进展 | |
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snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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sanguine
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| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
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fissures
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| n.狭长裂缝或裂隙( fissure的名词复数 )；裂伤；分歧；分裂v.裂开( fissure的第三人称单数 ) | |
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obtrude
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| v.闯入；侵入；打扰 | |
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overflow
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| v.(使)外溢，(使)溢出；溢出，流出，漫出 | |
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dreading
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| v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 ) | |
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adder
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| n.蝰蛇；小毒蛇 | |
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plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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sluggish
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| adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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sylvan
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| adj.森林的 | |
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inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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swirling
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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aglow
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| adj.发亮的；发红的；adv.发亮地 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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persevered
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| v.坚忍，坚持( persevere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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silt
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| n.淤泥，淤沙，粉砂层，泥沙层；vt.使淤塞；vi.被淤塞 | |
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iris
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| n.虹膜，彩虹 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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erase
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| v.擦掉；消除某事物的痕迹 | |
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50
swirled
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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auld
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| adj.老的，旧的 | |
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bin
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| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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53
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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disarm
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| v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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ambush
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| n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击 | |
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tinkle
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| vi.叮当作响；n.叮当声 | |
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anvil
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| n.铁钻 | |
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tenor
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| n.男高音（歌手），次中音（乐器），要旨，大意 | |
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tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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orchard
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| n.果园，果园里的全部果树，(美俚)棒球场 | |
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intruded
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| n.侵入的，推进的v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的过去式和过去分词 )；把…强加于 | |
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strands
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| n.（线、绳、金属线、毛发等的）股( strand的名词复数 )；缕；海洋、湖或河的)岸；（观点、计划、故事等的）部份v.使滞留，使搁浅( strand的第三人称单数 ) | |
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gut
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| n.[pl.]胆量；内脏；adj.本能的；vt.取出内脏 | |
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salmon
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| n.鲑，大马哈鱼，橙红色的 | |
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peal
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| n.钟声；v.鸣响 | |
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tainted
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| adj.腐坏的；污染的；沾污的；感染的v.使变质( taint的过去式和过去分词 )；使污染；败坏；被污染，腐坏，败坏 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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elusive
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| adj.难以表达(捉摸)的；令人困惑的；逃避的 | |
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zealous
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| adj.狂热的，热心的 | |
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demonstrations
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| 证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威 | |
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75
condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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76
swarming
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| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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77
contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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78
dearth
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| n.缺乏，粮食不足，饥谨 | |
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79
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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80
smelting
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| n.熔炼v.熔炼，提炼（矿石）( smelt的现在分词 ) | |
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81
broccoli
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| n.绿菜花，花椰菜 | |
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82
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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83
kennels
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| n.主人外出时的小动物寄养处，养狗场；狗窝( kennel的名词复数 )；养狗场 | |
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84
plied
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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85
pitcher
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| n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手 | |
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86
footpath
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| n.小路，人行道 | |
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