AN UNHEARD-OF VICTORY.

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 6, 11 September 1906, Page 2

AN UNHEARD-OF VICTORY.

THE ROMANCE OF A &AME FOWL. ■■ * ' There was consternation on the face Of a certain French farmer not many weeks ago. For the second time in three days his henhouse had been raided by a fox from the Vosges Mountains, lying near by. Much perturbed at these depredations and his failure to trap the ■ wily fox, the farmer drove to .the i mhrket. While there a fine gamecock of upright carriage and brilliant plumage attracted his attention. He inquired its value. > "The bird is tho best blood in France, monsieu*," the dealer answered. ‘He is a fighting cock, fierce and strong. See his spurs, sharp, ready for the pit ! Fifty francs is all I ask." Thereupon, thinking to replace the cockrel that had fallen to the fox, the farmer bought the bird. « » • * Five o’clock in the morning. Behind the Vosges Mountains the sun was slowly rising. The game-fowl stretched his neck and glanced curiously at his new quarters. Then he hopped from his perch, and with high step and upright gait strutted proudly from the roost. An admiring flock of hens followed closely in his train.; Perchdd on the top of a rubbish heap near a large bairn, the gamecock broke the stillness with prodigious crowing. A-sudden scuffling near a barred gate caused him to cease abruptly. Four or five hens fled towards, him, clucking with alarm, as through the gate the long, silvery-brown body of a fox wormed its way. V WiiiT fierce eyes the game-cock fixed the intruder. Tho fox crept near with stealthy steps. Feathers stiff, and tightened to his body, the bird gave A warning "chuck," whilst the frightened hens clustered round him. Then, with a swift bound the fox seized hold of the nearest hen. A

score of feathers fluttered in the wind, followed instantly by an infuriated vision- of rainbow plumes. The game-cock had turned to the rescue. Head dowruxyftnd watching every movement of his enemy, the bird waited the coming onslaught. The fox snarled wrathfully and prepared to spring. Flapping its wings, the fowl lept on him, kicking out furiously with its sharp spurred legV and planting hard pecks on the fox's muzzle. A great cackling .from the excited hens filled the yard. So loud did it become that the farmer was awakened. Thoughts of the fox ran in his mind, he hastily dressed and ran out to the farmyard. Then he rubbed his eyes in astonishment. In the middle of the yard lay the fox, stretched out-dead, whilst the game cock stood over his fallen foe, filling the air with triumphant crowing. Still unable, to grasp the reality of what he saw, the farmer bent over the fallen fox. A careful examination revealed the means by which the game-cock had scored so mighty a victory. One of the bird’s long spurs had penetrated the right eye, and entering the brain, had instantly brought down on Master Renard the fate that he most justly deserved . Taking everything into consideration, the farmer did not think he had paid too much for the gamecock.—From the “Royal Magazine.''