58 HUNTING TRIPS 



grip like a steel trap. A very few seconds 

 allow him to dig a hole in the ground, info 

 which he can back all except his head; and 

 when placed thus, with his rear and flanks 

 protected, he can beat off a dog many times 

 his own size. A young badger one night 

 came up round the ranch-house, and began 

 gnawing at some bones that had been left 

 near the door. Hearing the noise one of my 

 men took a lantern and went outside. The 

 glare of the light seemed to make the badger 

 stupid, for after looking at the lantern a few 

 moments, it coolly turned and went on eat- 

 ing the scraps of flesh on the bones, and was 

 knocked on the head without attempting to 

 escape. 



To come back to my trip. Early in the 

 morning I was awakened by the shrill yelp- 

 ing of the prairie-dogs whose town was near 

 me. The sun had not yet risen, and the air 

 had the peculiar chill it always takes on to- 

 ward morning, while little wreaths of light 

 mist rose from the pools. Getting up and 

 loosing Manitou to let him feed round where 



