THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



however, is now fortunately done away witli — I mean the 

 ' Welsh main,' as it is called, which consisted in causing thirty- 

 one of thirty-two cocks to be slaughtered, before the surviving 

 one was to be proclaimed the victor ! 



Although Frank Rab}' had seen some few exhibitions of 

 tighting-cocks in his father's neighbourhood, and at Eton, he 

 had never seen what is called ' a main ' fought : but having a 

 wish to see one, he accompanied his friend Hargrave to the 

 Oxford cockpit, and was introduced by him to the celebrated 

 Bob Dolly, who was at that time the proprietor of it. The 

 particulars of this main need not be given ; but, at the expira- 

 tion of it, the following conversation took place between the 

 two }'0ung sportsmen : — 



' Well, Frank,' said Hargrave (for Frank was he always called 

 by his intimates), ' what do you think of cock-fighting, now that 

 you have seen it nearly in its best form ? ' 



' Why,' replied Frank, ' I have scarcely made up my mind 

 suiBciently on the subject, to give you a decided answer. I 

 am, however, prepared to say that, although I cannot go the 

 length that j^ou do, when j^ou say, you look ujDon two cocks, 

 in the arena of a pit, in the light of two champions of olden 

 times, who rush to the charge for glory only, and imagine 

 that, in the shrill and animating note of their crowing, you 

 hear the herald's clarion, still, I consider the first " setting-to," 

 as it is called, of two highly-bred gamecocks, one of the most 

 interesting sights that animated nature can exhibit. Their 

 determined courage throughout the battle, and their invincible 

 spirit, to conquer or to die, are something more than natural, 

 and seem to justify the absurd notions entertained by the 

 ancients of these birds, not only in calling them sacred to the 

 sun, but making them to participate of a certain solar divinity, 

 and to be thus feared — at all events, reverenced — even by the 

 lion. But look at the cock in his natural state — a state of 

 freedom. What a beautiful animal he is ! What a pattern 

 of a warrior, a husband, and a fine gentleman ! See him clap 

 his wings and crow ; how proud of his courage does he appear ; 

 how gallant he is to his females ; how jealous of a rival ; and 

 how he is formed for contending with him, for he is all muscle 

 and bone ! Then observe what language he has at his com- 

 mand • If he finds food, he calls a favourite female to partake 

 of it ; if a danger appears, he bids his family beware ; and he 



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