POULTRY. 131 



started after them. The fluttering, squawking, and 

 barking attracted my attention, and I gave chase to 

 the pups. Away we went, chickens screeching with 

 fear, the pups yelping with delight, and I storming 

 with rage : &quot; Come here ! get out ! go home ! how 

 dare you?&quot; 



If there had been one pup, I might have stood a 

 chance ; but, &quot; being in doubt where to begin,&quot; I 

 &quot; both neglected.&quot; Each pounced on a chicken of 

 course, the largest and healthiest and squeezed the 

 breath out of them in a moment, and did not even 

 give me the sweet satisfaction of revenge ; but, hav 

 ing effected, their object, and seeing me approach, 

 stick in hand, bent on exemplary punishment, they 

 each dropped their prey, and, darting through the 

 neighboring fence, secured&quot; their retreat, or, as army 

 men have it, &quot; saved their bacon.&quot; This little amuse 

 ment was renewed daily, and Patrick was continually 

 on guard against a sortie of the enemy. But w r e be 

 came more skillful with practice, and a few well-di 

 rected blows and successful shots sent the enemy 

 howling to the rear, and demoralized him greatly. 

 Our chickens, however, had somewhat diminished in 

 number ; there were the killed, wounded, and miss 

 ing, leaving quite a moderate residue. Moreover, 

 there was a gentleman of Irish extraction living 



