STUBBS THE BADGER 
Thus, follow-my-leader-wise, they entered the 
Hollow Field, and Mother Badger sought a likely 
spot where the babies might receive a first lesson in 
beetle-hunting. She dug up the turf, and grunted 
for her family to turn over the scrapings. He who 
nosed deepest obtained the morsel a dor-beetle, 
well-flavoured, and devoured with gusto with 
the condiment of Nature's providing. 
Presently, the Mother Badger craned her long 
neck, and her little eyes twinkled. She had winded 
something else which would afford a very good 
object-lesson, besides supper, for the cubs. Each 
little one tiptoed up and sniffed in turn : it was 
an unknown smell, but good decidedly good. 
' Hunt it ! ' grunted Mother Badger, as plainly as 
grunt could speak. Listening, they heard needlets 
of sound, and the ghost of a rustle, as though some 
tiny thing thrust the grass-blades aside. The eldest 
cub went first. He located it, as he thought exactly, 
and snapped gingerly. He caught a mouthful of 
grass [only, and the rest had no better fortune. 
Mother [Badger saw that she must assist, or 
else her pupils would go supperless. 
She thrust in her snout, drew out 
a mouse, and dropped it before 
them. The cubs rushed 
helter-skelter, and the 
