121 



respectful, but he shook his head. All he knew was 

 that a hen pheasant had been killed upon her nest, and 

 all the eggs eaten, and that the prints of badgers' feet 

 were plain on the soft earth all round the spot, and turn 

 them out he would. 



One man there was in the little company who used no 

 spade, and carried nothing but two crooked sticks with 

 whose help he limped along. But if he brought no 

 hunting gear he contributed his unrivalled skill of wood 

 craft. No chase within cry of the river from Ashburton 

 to Hexworthy could prosper without him. No man 

 (jan fairly say he knows the river who has not fished it 

 with that veteran angler. The best of dogs would be of 

 little use if Bill Mann were not near upon his shaggy 

 steed to show the favourite covert of the " black' ock." 

 And now, with his short black clay between his lips, he 

 sat down to take command. 



Two small terriers, put into one of the many holes, 

 were hardly underground when a fox dashed out from 

 one of the entrances and vanished in the thickets. Such 

 companionship seems not uncommon. Several instances 

 have been recorded in which fox and badger were con- 

 tent to occupy apartments in the same earth. 



The barking of the dogs, faintly heard from underfoot, 

 gave evidence of other game. The men put their ears 

 on the ground and listened. The keeper said he could 

 hear a badger. Bill declared he could smell it. For 

 some time the men could not tell where to dig. Now 

 the barking and scuffling was to this side, now to that. 

 When at last it settled down in one spot, pick and 



