38 GAME FOWL. 



smock-frock, and was clumsily, though potently built, his shoul- 

 ders being ample, and of a rotundity resembling a wool-pack ; 

 his legs were not equal to his bulk ; he was unconversational, 

 almost to a fault, and never made even the slightest remark that 

 did not appertain to cocks or cocking ; his narrow, damp, colour- 

 less eye, twinkled a cold satisfaction when a bird of promise made 

 good work on the mat, and sometimes, though seldom, he was 

 elevated into the proffer of a moderate bet; but generally he 

 leaned over the rails of a small gallery, running parallel with the 

 coop, and stooping attentively towards the pit, watching the 

 progress of the battle. I remarked he was extremely like a cock 

 old Nash's beaked nose, drawn close down, over his mouth ; his 

 red forehead and gills ; his round body ; and blue, thin legs ; and 

 his silver-gray, scanty feathery hair, lying like a plume over his 

 head, all proved him cock-like. This man, thought I, has been 

 cooped up in pens, or penned up in coops, until he has become 

 shaped, coloured, mannered like the bird he has been feeding. I 

 should scarcely have been surprised, if told, that old Nash crowed 

 when the light first dawned of a summer's morning. I warrant 

 he pecked bread and milk to some tune, and, perhaps, slept upon a 

 perch ! But Fleming lifted his bird from the bag, and my whole mind 

 was directed his way : this was a yellow-bodied, black- winged, hand- 

 some cock, seemingly rather slight, but elastic and muscular ; he 

 was restless at the sight of his antagonist, but quite silent ; and 

 old Nash examined him most carefully, by the paper, and delivered 

 him up to Fleming, upon finding him answer to his description. 

 The setters-to then smoothed their birds, and handled them, wetted 

 their fingers, and moistened their bandaged ankles, where the spurs 

 were fastened ; held them up opposite to each other, and then 

 pampered their courage and prepared them for combat. 



THE FIGHT. 



The mat was cleared of all persons except Fleming and young 

 Nash ; the betting went on vociferously ; the setters-to taunted 

 the birds with each other's presence allowed them to strike at 

 each other at a distance put them on the mat facing each other 

 encouraged and fed their crowing and mantling, until they were 

 nearly dangerous to hold, and then loosened them against each 

 other, for the fatal fight. 



The first terrific dart into attitude was, indeed, strikingly 

 grand and beautiful ; and the wary sparring, watching, dodging 

 for the first cut, was extremely curious. They were beak point 



