Little Joe Otter/Chapter 29
CHAPTER XXIX
THE YOUNG OTTER PAYS THE PRICE
If life and freedom be the cost,
What matter if a toe is lost?
Have you ever tried to make up your mind to have an aching tooth pulled? If you have, you remember what hard work it was and how you kept putting it off and putting it off and putting it off. It was the same way with the young Otter caught in a steel trap by one toe. His father, Little Joe Otter, had told him that there was only one way in which he could gain freedom, and that was by losing that toe. He had told him that he would have to lose that toe or lose his life.
But the young Otter didn't want to lose his toe. He said so over and over. He just couldn't make up his mind to it. It seemed to him a dreadful thing to lose a toe.
"What is losing your toe compared with losing your life?" his father asked.
"But perhaps I won't lose my life," protested the young Otter.
"Yes, you will," replied Little Joe Otter. "It is just as certain as it is that you are now caught in this trap. I can't help you; your mother can't help you; no one can help you. That two-legged creature who set this dreadful trap will come to see if any one has been caught in it. Then he'll kill you. If you want this to happen rather than lose that toe, why I may as well go back to your mother and sister. It is useless for me to stay here. There is no knowing when that trapper may come and he may have a terrible gun with him. A good hard pull with all your might will set you free. I'm going now. Come on!"
The young Otter shook his head. His eyes were filled with tears. He couldn't bear the thought of being left alone, yet he couldn't make up his mind to lose that toe. That toe was numb now. That trap didn't hurt so very much. But he was sure that if he should try to pull himself free, it would hurt dreadfully. It was because of this that he couldn't make up his mind to try.
"Good-by," said Little Joe Otter, and began to swim away swiftly. He didn't even look back. At first the young Otter couldn't believe that he was really being left alone. But his father kept straight on. Every second he was getting farther and farther away. At last the young Otter realized that his father had meant just what he said.
The young Otter stood it just as long as he could. Then the thought of being left alone in that cruel trap became more than he could bear. He plunged after his father. The trap brought him up short. But with all his might he struggled. He didn't even notice the pain. The thought of being left alone there was worse than any pain.
Suddenly that trap let go. At least he thought it had let go. He was free! I wish you could have seen him shoot through the water. How he did swim! Little Joe Otter heard him coming and waited for him. "So you decided that freedom is worth the price of a toe," said he.
Such a funny look as the face of that young Otter wore. It was not until then that he realized that he had left his toe behind.