The opportunist oft succeeds  
Because of trifles that he heeds¹.
 
           Little Joe Otter².
 
Yowler the Bobcat, prowling about through the Green Forest, came across the trail of the Otter family. He didn’t have to use his nose to follow that trail. Any one with eyes could follow it. The instant he saw it Yowler knew who had made that trail.
 
“Huh!” muttered Yowler. “Little Joe Otter has started on his travels again. I wonder where he is going this time.”
 
Then Yowler, more from habit than anything else, put his nose down in that trail and sniffed³. A surprising change came over him. He suddenly took great interest in that trail. He had smelled young Otters⁴. Little Joe or Mrs. Otter he wouldn’t think of attacking. They were too big and strong, and he knew too well how they could fight. But a young Otter would be a different matter, even though he might be almost fully⁵ grown. Certainly this was a matter worth looking into.
 
So in his usual, sneaking⁷ fashion Yowler followed that trail. And at length he came to the big upturned tree and the hole in the snow that led down under the roots. Very gently Yowler sniffed. At once his nose was filled with the Otter scent⁸. He grinned hungrily. Those Otters were down there asleep. It was a great temptation to dig down and try to surprise them. But Yowler knew better than to try this. He looked around. A short distance away was a big hemlock

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