self, being expert in attacking all animals, but
especially cautious when he met with those with whose prowess he was
well acquainted. We had bagged two or three small animals and a few
birds, when, forgetting our usual custom of keeping together, we each
took a different path, which led us to some distance apart. Martin was
nearest to me; I could still see him between the trees, when I heard a
shot. I looked towards him; but as I saw no smoke, I concluded that he
had not fired. Directly afterwards he shouted, "Come on, David! I
heard Robin cry out; something must have happened."

I ran as fast as I could, shouting to Alick, who I hoped might hear me.
The ground being tolerably open in the direction I had taken, I quickly
overtook Martin.

"It was there I heard his voice," he exclaimed. "Yes; he's still crying
out. I can't understand it, but I hope nothing terrible has happened to
him."

Guided by Robin's voice, we at last got near him. At the same moment
Alick appeared in another direction between the trees.

Instead of being alarmed, we burst into a fit of laughter, for there was
Robin holding on to the bushy tail of an animal which with might and
main was making towards a hole near at hand. "Help me! help me!" cried
Robin, "or the beast will get away."

Robin pulled in one direction, and the beast, which I saw was an
unusually large badger, was endeavouring to scramble off in another,
dragging Robin after it. Before Bouncer, who had followed Alick, could
spring forward to Robin's assistance the badger had reached its hole,
down which it was struggling with might and main to descend; but Robin,
who had now no fears of being bitten, held on stoutly, while Bouncer
flew at the hinder quarters of the beast, of which he took a firm grip.

"Pull away, Robin, pull away," I shouted. "You can have the honour of
killing him yourself, with the help of Bouncer."

Robin hauled away, and so did the dog; but for some time it seemed
doubtful which party would gain the victory. At last Robin, by a
desperate effort, hauled the unfortunate badger out of the hole; and as
he did so he fell backwards, still holding on, and drawing the creature
almost over him. On this Bouncer seized it by the neck, and Martin,
taking up a thick stick which lay at hand, stunned it with a blow, when
it was quickly dispatched. We took off the skin, as we had those of the
other animals we had shot, and did them up to be sent back by the me