THE BADGER 



sustained conflict and labour of the latter, for 

 which you require perseverance, wit, patience, 

 and courage on the part of man and terrier. 

 The courage and endurance that a good terrier 

 will display when need requires before such a 

 foe, will fill his owner's heart with joy and 

 pride. A good terrier is a veritable treasure ; 

 the price of a sure, game, and determined 

 one is far above rubies. Picture what it 

 means for a small terrier to enter into the 

 bowels of the earth to find, to cope with, and 

 for long hours in dust and darkness in the 

 tortuous maze to keep up an unequal fight 

 with an enormously superior foe, whose 

 grunts and clattering teeth add terror to his 

 charges down the echoing ways. Yet I have 

 had not a few that, hour after hour, on their 

 backs or their sides, would lie up to a badger, 

 keeping him cornered, and continuously give 

 tongue with no voice to direct them. Should 

 the badger charge, such a terrier would 

 rather die than let him leave the corner to 

 which he has been driven, and will return 

 fighting and facing his huge opponent, driv- 

 ing him inch by inch into the cul de sac, 

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