12 Badger¹
Mr Fox and the three remaining Small Foxes dug fast and straight. They were all too excited now tofeel tired or hungry. They knew they were going to have a whacking² great feast before long and thefact that it was none other than Boggis’s chickens they were going to eat made them churgle withlaughter every time they thought of it. It was lovely to realize that while the fat farmer was sitting upthere on the hill waiting for them to starve, he was also giving them their dinner without knowing it.
‘Keep digging,’ said Mr Fox. ‘It’s not much further.’
All of a sudden a deep voice above their heads said, ‘Who goes there?’ The foxes jumped. Theylooked up quickly and they saw, peeking³ through a small hole in the roof of the tunnel, a long blackpointed furry⁴ face.
‘Badger!’ cried Mr Fox.
‘Foxy!’ cried Badger. ‘My goodness me, I’m glad I’ve found someone at last! I’ve been diggingaround in circles for three days and nights and I haven’t the foggiest idea where I am!’
Badger made the hole in the ceiling bigger and dropped down beside the foxes. A Small Badger(his son) dropped down after him. ‘Haven’t you heard what’s happening up on the hill?’ Badger saidexcitedly. ‘It’s chaos⁵! Half the wood has disappeared and there are men with guns all over thecountryside! None of us can get out, even at night! We’re all starving to death!’
‘Who is we?’ asked Mr Fox.
‘All us diggers. That’s me and Mole⁶ and Rabbit and all our wives and children. Even Weasel, whocan usually sneak⁷ out of the tightest spots, is right now hiding down my hole with Mrs Weasel andsix kids. What on earth are we going to do, Foxy? I think we’re finished!’
Mr Fox looked at his three children and he smiled. The children smiled back at him, sharing hissecret. ‘My dear old Badger,’ he said, ‘this mess you’re in is all my fault . . .’

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