Badgers 93 



the " run," when suddenly he exclaimed : 

 " Here they are, right under me ! 

 and there was not a particle of doubt 

 about it. 



It is always dangerous to sink a trench 

 right over the animals, for there is a chance 

 of burying or damaging the dog, but by 

 cutting a cross trench you leave a free exit, 

 and get to the dog and badger without 

 danger. We started the cross trench, and 

 each minute the sounds became more and 

 more distinct, until at length we cut fair 

 across the main run, and there, about a yard 

 in, we could see Turk's tail. Carefully we 

 opened up, and took the little chap out, 

 much to his disgust, and then we could see 

 the badger a regular father of all badgers. 

 Now was the critical moment, and excite- 

 ment ran high ; we had the badger tongs, 

 but the beast was in such a position that it 

 was impossible to effectively use them. An 



