THE BADGER 



against which I could not protect myself, as 

 I was powerless to retreat, there being only 

 room to lie flat on the ground. The man 

 behind me was in the same position, tight 

 hold of my ankles, and the man again behind 

 him, and the rest of the force made a human 

 chain, which on a signal from me was to be 

 drawn out to daylight. Many attempts I 

 made when the badger charged to get him 

 with the tongs, but I had so little room to 

 work my hands in that I missed him, and 

 heard and felt the click and snack of his 

 teeth on the iron. At last I felt 1 had hold 

 of something, and I slipped the guard on the 

 tongs, making the hold sure. I cried " Haul 

 away," holding the terrier with one hand 

 between me and the badger, and the tongs 

 in the other. I found that he came with 

 wonderful ease. It was not till we got to the 

 light that I saw I had the huge bouncing 

 brute by one claw, " Nip " diverting his 

 attention from my head and hands. The 

 labourers set up a shout, "He's got him by the 

 clee," and a minute later we had the satisfac- 

 tion of bagging him. But we were out only 



95 



