224 STUBBS THE BADGER 
plumy again, and meditated. The upshot of his medi- 
tations was that he presently entered the ' earth.' 
Before the autumn sun had struggled through 
the mist, the badgers came home, grunting with 
comfort begotten of a raided bees' byke and truffles. 
But when Stubbs poked his snout into the burrow, 
he drew it out again smartly, and his grunt said 
plainly and indignantly : ' Fox ! ' Then more 
cautiously they proceeded to investigate. Stubbs 
crept in first, and Grunter followed exactly two 
feet behind, in approved badger fashion. The 
passage wound downwards, and the air inside 
being hot and still, the scent was very strong. 
Suddenly the silence was broken by a low snarl 
the snarl of a full-fed fox awakened from his sleep. 
Stubbs backed precipitately, for the sound was just 
under his paws, and in so doing collided with his 
mate. For a few seconds there was a scrimmage 
as they jammed shoulder to shoulder in the narrow 
passage. Then Stubbs struggled free, and they 
fled to discuss the situation from a safe distance. A 
fox is no match for a badger in open fight, but in 
this case the advantage of position decidedly lay 
with the intruder. As they deliberated, the ringing 
snarl sounded again. That settled it. Sleep is a 
necessity to a badger, and it was already long past 
bed-time. Stubbs was wet, full-fed, drowsy, and in 
