198 FIVE ACRES TOO MUCH. 



&quot; Every one does the same !&quot; he shrieked in his 

 agony. 



&quot; If every one else is cruel, is that a reason you 

 should be ? Ought you not rather to have drawn a 

 better moral from their vicious example?&quot; and again 

 the plumes plunged into his flesh, for he was but lit 

 tle protected against such an attack. 



&quot; Oh, murder ! murder ! The feathers of dead geese 

 are not worth as much as those of live,&quot; he cried out, 

 the torture getting the better of his prudence. 



This answer was too unfeeling for the gander and 

 his followers to endure. They dashed, one and all, 

 upon the old man, who leaped from the bed and 

 took to flight. They followed, and -now, when they 

 plunged into his body, the feathers remained sticking 

 there. They pursued him round the yard, while he 

 fought with his arms, and cried, and begged, much as 

 the geese had flapped, and fluttered, and cackled be 

 fore. The rest of the flock joined in the hunt, and 

 bit the flesh from his bare legs, and beat him with 

 their wings, till the old man sank in a swoon. Then 

 they spread their wings, and soared far, far out of 

 sight. 



Next day, w T hen Dame Marrott returned, what was 

 her astonishment to find the house-door open, and to 

 see her husband s clothes scattered about upon the 



