THE BADGER 



the dog, some one. Hold the bag. Hoist 

 our grey-coated friend into the air, and lower 

 him into the sack ; he weighs at least thirty- 

 pounds. The dog is hardly marked, and you 

 haven't torn more than three rents in your 

 nether garments getting through that last 

 thorn hedge. Altogether, every one agrees 

 that it was a satisfactory little run. 



" The old English sheep-dog I have known 

 do well for the other method. The badger 

 when pursued makes straight for home, 

 blunders headlong into the hole, only to find 

 that his efforts to get in are closing the mouth 

 of the sack, that retreat or fighting are alike 

 in vain, and that he is an imprisoned bagman, 

 without having struck a blow in self-defence. 

 It is not uncommon for a badger thus pursued 

 to stand at bay, when a good dog may keep 

 him in play, or hold on, till you come up and 

 secure him. No doubt there is amusement 

 and excitement in this moonlight chase, and 

 to some it is preferable to the arduous labour 

 with pick, spade, axe, and terrier." 



To my mind, however, there is something 

 more interesting and exciting in the long- 



83 



