"And what about badgers?" I asked. "In such a rough-looking spot withwoods and all, it strikes me as just the sort of place where one wouldfind that beast."

A long dead silence followed. I caught the eye of the man nearest me andrepeated the question, "Are there no badgers here?" His eyes fell, thenhe exchanged glances with some of the others, all very serious; and atlength my man, addressing the person who had acted as spokesman before,said, "Perhaps you'll tell the gentleman if there are any badgers here."