THE BADGER. ,119 



turns. They had not proceeded far, when they heard 

 the cry of an animal in seeming distress, and stopped to 

 listen whence it proceeded, when another badger ap- 

 proached them slowly. They at first threw stones at 

 it ; notwithstanding which, it drew near, came up to 

 the dead animal, began to lick it, and continued its 

 mournful cry. The men, surprised at this, desisted from 

 offering any farther injury to it, and again drew the 

 dead one along as before ; when the living badger, de- 

 termined not to .quit its dead companion, lay down on 

 it, taking it gently by one ear, and in that manner was 

 drawn into the midst of the village, nor could dogs, 

 boys, or men induce it to quit the situation by any 

 means; and to their shame, be it said, they had the 

 inhumanity to kill the poor animal, and afterwards to 

 burn it, declaring it could be no other than a witch ! 



