106 MOTH HUNTING. 



Well away, away we ran, still labouring, and up, up I was getting, 

 gaining on them rapidly; for you must know that although Badgers bite 

 desperately, they cannot run fast;^ and as for myself I must tell you that 

 I was then running as never man ran before, nor since, nor ever will, 

 for my feet scarcely touched the ground. But alas, and as I had antici- 

 pated, just as I neared and was about to close with them, I saw the 

 beginning of my worst fears realized. Off went one down the declivity, 

 away went the. second, and now — now came the exciting moment, as round 

 turned the third and last broadside, to follow his companions; and, as 

 with one last, desperate, and supernatural-like eflfort, having summoned up 

 every remaining particle of strength and breath for the purpose, I sprang 

 with one bound to the spot, all hope of my former plan being now 

 at an end, and another having suddenly seized my brain, I gave him such a 

 coup de grace with my right foot on the hind quarter as sent him 

 reeling and no doubt wreathing in the air like a shuttlecock, though 

 perhaps not quite so high; my object being to have followed up the assault, 

 and to have set upon him as soon as he came down, and before he could 

 have had time again to have got himself properly righted, so that he 

 would or might have fallen an easy prey. But no; I did indeed see him 

 go up, but when he came down again, or whether he is yet down or not 

 I positively cannot tell; for no sooner did my foot came in contact with 

 his extremity, than the other, not willing, as it would seem, to be behind 

 its fellow, rose too, and with as little ceremony as if I had been on the 

 smoothest piece of ice. Up, up and away flew my collecting box, and 

 down, yes down to be sure I went. What, down the steep and right into 

 the stream? no, but I wish I had, for I might have fared better 

 than I did, but down on my poor back right on the hard path I came, 

 as flat as a flounder. Yes, there lay the poor old naturalist, the very 

 picture of death, and once more reaping the choice fruits of his enthu- 

 siasm, or perhaps, as some would say, foolishness. Well, no matter, 

 and just any way you like; for it has ever been, and I am sore afraid 

 will ever be so to the end; at least his mother used to say when he was 

 .-a loon, "Weel, weel Tam, ye'll never halt till ye be drowned, or else gotten 

 dead in some wood and devoured wi' beasts." 



How long I lay I cannot tell, but it must have been some considerable 

 time. Coming to myself again, however, and recollection having in some 

 measure returned, my first impulse was to feel if both legs were still 

 attached; for I had a sort of faint notion that at least one of them flew 



* Can't they ! Some of my schoolfellows will have with me I entertain no doubt — at 

 least I can answer for myself^a considerable amount of difference of opinion about this. 

 "What a tale I could unfold of school-days ! Perhaps I may open a page of it some time 

 or other.— F. 0. Moruis. 



