20 across Protect worst badger (8). I have 'bestride for this, based on B?STRID? Chambers has 'ride' as 'badger', and 'bestride' as 'protect', so I'm left with how to reconcile 'worst' as 'best', and the only thing I can come up with is 'best' (as in 'Sunday best') may be worsted fabric. Pretty tenuous...unless someone has something obvious that I've missed.