82 FARMING IT 



'template it, and at the sight his wrath grew. 

 Here was an unknown something that apparently 

 needed a lesson. It was alive because it moved. 

 That was enough. It defied him. He would in- 

 vestigate it promptly. 



And investigation with a gamecock meant 

 instant and vigorous action. The fighting bird 

 spread its hackles, took a short run, launched 

 itself in the air, and drove its sharp spurs home 

 with all the power of its strong wings. The re- 

 sult was equally astonishing to the gamecock 

 and to his innocent and unsuspecting antagonist. 



With a yell that could have been heard half 

 a mile, the old gentleman straightened up, 

 bumping his head resoundingly against an over- 

 hanging beam. With a vigorous cuss word he 

 launched the grain measure at the gamecock, 

 and followed this with a hammer that lamed an 

 innocent pullet for life. 



When I returned from the office that night I 

 heard his views of the transaction, and it is but 

 justice to him to state that I never heard a more 

 cogent or dramatic recapitulation of the affair. 

 That night when all was dark I boxed the game- 

 cock up and sent him away, where I trust he has 

 become the founder of a long line of beautiful 

 birds. But it was many days before the old 

 gentleman resumed his seat on the bench. 



