THE ROOSTER SAVED THE DAY

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue XXIII, 9 June 1900, Page 1103

THE ROOSTER SAVED THE DAY

Every schoollxjy knows the trail!lion, famous in Roman history, of the geese which saved the Capitol by quacking an alarm when the Gauls approached in the night. Modern history furnishes an interesting parellel. One of the famous victories of Eng* land on the sea was the battle off Capo St. \ invent, Portugal, in 1797. when a British fleet nearly destroyed a Spanish fleet of almost double its num bers.

For a long time the struggle was doubtful, and one of the British slrps, the Marlborough, was so severely crippled that her captain was thinking or surrender to save further wa<s4e of life.

The ship’s mast had gone by the board, the chief officer was mortally wounded, and so many of his sul>ordlnates were disabled that the discipline of the crew began to give way. They grew sullen under the terrible fire, which they could not return with effect.

Suddenly a shot struck the coop in which a few fowls had been confined. One cock alone was si ill alive, and finding himself at liberty he flap|>ed his wings mightily, and fluttering upwards jwrehed on the stump of the mainmast and surveyed the scene ot carnage about him.

Then raising his head defiantly he began a long, strident crow. The crew answered with three cheers, ami even the wounded smiled. With renewed sp’rritis the men worked the few remaining guns, and soon a favouring turn of battle drove away the last thought of surrender.