THE BADGER 



caring neither for bite nor wounds, and 

 making noise enough to let you know where 

 the battle rages. It is no part of his duty to 

 tackle the badger. A good terrier knows 

 this, and will only resort to his teeth should 

 the badger attempt to force a passage. If it 

 comes to close quarters, such a terrier will 

 draw back his fore-legs under his body, take 

 the attack full in the face, and trust to seizing 

 the badger by the neck. A badger when 

 attacked generally bites upwards, i. e. he 

 lowers his head and turns the back of his 

 head downwards. Nothing makes the heart 

 beat faster than, with head to the earth, to 

 hear the din of this subterranean warfare 

 carried along the dark galleries to the day. 

 You have sent in one of your best terriers ; 

 he has tried by cajolery and caresses, by 

 cries, by straining at his chain to be allowed 

 the honourable distinction of first blood. 

 You have dispatched him with your blessing, 

 and he has quickly and silently started on his 

 journey into the unknown. You listen to 

 him forcing his passage, drawing himself round 

 corners, scratching away some accumulation 



85 



