212 BIRDS, BEASTS, AND FISHES 



out the hen, he paddled with arched -back neck round 

 her, and in a clever manner separated her from her simple 

 lover, who sailed swiftly away. Turning his prey, he 

 chased her before him, she paddling dog fashion, her 

 heart beating with fear. Having placed some fifty boats' 

 lengths between her and her young but timid husband, 

 he rose on the water, mad with desire, and flew noisily 

 towards her, and in some forty yards came up with her, 

 and seized her with his strong bill between her white 

 shoulders, he endeavoured to accomplish his fell design 

 on the water, she, terror-stricken, flapping her wings and 

 paddling towards the quaint low water-side, where she 

 succeeded in landing, but never for a moment did he relin- 

 quish his lustful grip. However, on leaving the water, he 

 quickly let go her pretty shoulders and seized her by the 

 crown of the head, and in full pride, with outspread wings, 

 mounted her, she trembling, her frail wings hanging loosely 

 by her side. 



" Then she on her belly fell, he on her back." 



With everted tail, she struggled feebly for a moment ; but 

 his love was too hot, so her tail relaxed, her virtue was 

 gone, and in a few moments the rape was done. And 

 her outraged husband, who had come up with great show 

 of fury and bustling feathers, got out on the bank beside 

 them, and only watched and waited till the lustful old cock 

 writhed off backwards, when he stretched his neck, hissed, 

 shook himself, and walking down to the river, began 

 throwing water over himself, after which he swam leisurely 

 off to his lawful spouse. The ravished beauty looked bored, 

 and the injured husband made a pretence of following the 

 ravisher to avenge his honour, but soon desisted, and the 

 injured pair began bathing and flapping their wings. The 

 young cock was in all probability too poor in condition to 

 give battle ; and the end of it : the ravisher's lawful spouse 

 received him joyfully. 



