When life’s at stake ’tis no disgrace
To run from what you dare not face.
Little Joe Otter1.
Little Joe Otter and his family had traveled many miles from the Laughing Brook2 on their way to that other brook where Little Joe was sure they would find better fishing. They had left a deep trail through the snow. It happened that this trail was found by an old trapper, who was tramping through the woods.
“Traveling Otter!” he exclaimed, as soon as he saw that trail. Then he examined the trail very carefully. “More than one has been along here,” he decided3. “What is more, those Otters4 are not very far ahead of me. This trail is very fresh. They’re heading straight for the pond just beyond the next ridge5. Otter fur brings high prices these days. If I can catch up with them, I may be able to get a skin or two.”
He looked around for a stout6 club, and as soon as he had found one to suit him he hurried along that trail. He guessed that those Otters were not hurrying. He hoped that if he could get near enough before he was discovered, he would be able to outrun one or two of them. So he hurried on as fast as he could, taking the greatest care to make as little noise as possible.
Little Joe, Mrs. Joe and the two young Otters had almost reached the pond when Little Joe’s ears caught a sound that caused him to stop and look back along their trail. He saw that man runni............