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This was tossed in Bold’s direction and at once the crow flew off again.
    The meat smelled rank, but Bold was desperate and chewed it with relish. A second piece was soon dropped to the ditch bottom. The crow returned four more times, the last time with the biggest chunk of all which it stayed to see him eat.
    ‘That’s the last of it,’ the bird announced afterwards.
    ‘I’m very obliged to you,’ said Bold.
    The sun had at last begun to drop behind the horizon. It was time for the crow to renew its search. Bold gave him directions to the quarter of the game wood where lay the badger’s set. The bird disappeared.
    The food had certainly put new heart into the young fox. He lay, watching the evening shadows fall, with renewed confidence in his own fate. But he hoped his friend the she-badger would be out foraging early or the crow might not find her, for he could not see well enough in complete darkness.
    As it was, night had very nearly enveloped the countryside when Bold’s messenger returned once more. ‘I’ve located your four-legged friends,’ he told the fox. ‘They’re rushing about collecting what they can for you now. But I’m afraid I can’t be of any more assistance to you. I’m a day creature.’
    ‘Of course, I appreciate that,’ said Bold. ‘I feel a little stronger already, thanks to you. But how will the badgers find me?’
    ‘I really don’t know. By scent, I should think. But that’s their problem – and yours too.’
    ‘Did you give them any indication of my whereabouts?’ Bold asked.
    ‘Yes, vaguely.’ The crow paused, aware of the fox’s misgivings. ‘I’ll do one more thing for you,’ it said. ‘I’ll come and find you at dawn, and if they haven’t shown up I’ll lead them to you. I can’t do more.’
    ‘I don’t expect it,’ replied Bold. ‘And I shan’t forget this.’
    ‘Very well, then. Till daybreak,’ said the bird. Then he was gone, an even blacker shape against the blackness of the night sky.

—— 7 ——
A Shadow of Himself
    It was a long journey for the badgers to make across open terrain and with their catches in their jaws. There were four of them – the sow badger and three of her progeny, now grown up. Daybreak found them still some distance from their goal, though they had been travelling in the right direction. The Carrion Crow spotted them easily and led them towards Bold.
    The fox had lain awake most of the night, uttering occasional muffled barks to give a hint of his position. Now he dozed in the ditch, having refreshed himself by licking at the cold dew trapped in the overhanging grass stems.
    The crow cawed harshly to waken him, and then, his business done, vanished in pursuit of his own breakfast. Soon the badgers came clambering into the ditch with their burdens of food. One of them had clawed up some tubers, two of them brought mice, and the sow badger had caught a great rat that had been scavenging by the gibbet. All of the offerings were welcome to the fox, and none of the animals made any noise as he devoured his food piece by piece.
    Then the sow badger spoke. ‘I scarcely recognize you,’ she said.
    Bold looked at her, licking his chops. ‘My fortunes have dwindled rather since last I saw you,’ he replied.
    ‘Perhaps you should have stayed in our wood after all,’ she observed.
    ‘Either way I should have fallen foul of the human enemy,’ said Bold. ‘That gamekeeper was out to get me, and he would have tried another trick.’
    ‘Well, I’ve seen no traps around since you left,’ said the she-badger, ‘and I’ve been very wary, so he must be content with your disappearance.’
    ‘That’s why we think that now your safest plan is to come back with us,’ said one of her offspring, and added: ‘You see, the man won’t be expecting your return.’
    ‘That’s good thinking,’ agreed Bold. ‘But there’s a grave difficulty. I can’t travel.’
    ‘Can’t you move at all?’ asked the sow