THE BADGER 



or fall from the roof, and hear his eager 

 panting as he winds his foe. Presently you 

 hear a low sharp bark, then another, then 

 two or three more, next a bumping, thump- 

 ing noise ; it is the badger, who has waited 

 to see who the intruder is, and, rousing 

 himself, is retreating. The terrier barks no 

 more, but you can hear the thump-thump of 

 the badger, followed by the efforts of the dog 

 to keep up with him. They are now a long 

 way in, and you can plainly hear the bark 

 again. Soon the fight draws nearer, and the 

 terrier's cry comes to your ear with regularity 

 and clearness ; but the badger is only dis- 

 puting the way, he has not yet been driven 

 with his back against the wall. The terrier 

 redoubles his activity, you can hear him 

 feinting at the badger, sharp give-and-take, 

 but no foolish attempt to lay hold. After 

 ten minutes the badger again retreats, prob- 

 ably up the hill, and you have to listen on 

 the surface or at the higher holes of the set 

 till you can hear them again. At last you 

 catch a faint sound, they are still moving, 



now stationary, now further on ; then they 



86 



