Each bit of knowledge you attain²  
Will prove an aid to future gain.
 
              Little Joe Otter³.
 
The young Otter had told his father, Little Joe Otter, the story of how his fish had mysteriously disappeared. You should have seen the twinkle in Little Joe’s eyes as he listened.
 
“Would you really like to know what became of your fish?” Little Joe asked.
 
“Of course I would,” replied the young Otter. “But I don’t believe anybody will ever find out.”
 
“Don’t you think I could find out if I went over there?” asked Little Joe.
 
The young Otter shook his head very decidedly. “No, I don’t,” said he very honestly.
 
“All right, son, let’s go fishing,” replied Little Joe Otter, his eyes twinkling more than ever.
 
So together they went fishing, and presently each caught a fish. “You take yours over to the bank, but don’t stop to eat it. Keep your eyes on this fish of mine,” said Little Joe.
 
The young Otter obediently took his fish over to the bank and then sat down to watch. Little Joe Otter climbed out on the ice at the place where the young Otter had twice lost his fish. He laid the fish down on the ice, then plunged⁴ into the water and swam over to where the young Otter was. Before he got there, the young Otter saw a great, broad-winged, white bird appear as if from nowhere, without stopping in his flight, pick up that fish on the ice and fly away a short distance. Then this great bird alighted on the ice and suddenly didn’t look like a bird at all. He looked like just a little heap of snow. He looked exactly like the heap of snow that the young Otter had seen over there several times before.
 
You should have seen the eyes of that young Otter pop out of his head. He was so surprised that for a full minute he couldn’t find his tongue.
 
Little Joe Otter’s eyes twinkled more than ever. “Well, son,” said he, “what did you see?”
 
“I saw your fish disappear............