THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 291 



clumsy way of telling the story. ' Cocks at their walks,' 

 he said, ' and at full liberty, will seek each other for battle, 

 as far as they can hear each other's crowing, and the 

 putting spurs on their heels, when brought into the pit to 

 fight, is quite contrary to cruelty, for the battle is sooner 

 over, and what they suffer is nothing, or next to nothing, 

 to what they would suffer, were they to fight with their 

 own natural heels, bruising each other in every tender 

 part killing each other, in short, by inches. Then here,' 

 he said, 'is the comparison between the man who fights a 

 duel, and him who fights for money in the ring. The 

 one meets his man like the game-cock, of his own free 

 will, and with artificial weapons ; but the other is made 

 to fight merely for the sake of money, and as he fights 

 with natural weapons, he receives blows and bruises, 

 almost to the point of death, just to amuse idle lookers-on, 

 and for the purpose of gambling on the event.' " 



" Did your friend say anything about hunting 1 " asked 

 Hargrave. 



"Yes, Mr. Hargrave," replied Jem, "he compared it in 

 one way to cock-fighting. 'Hounds and greyhounds,' 

 said he, 'are formed for the pursuit of their respective 

 game ; they are guided by nature.' " 



" By natural instinct, you mean, Jem," interrupted 

 Hargrave. 



" Just so," said Jem ; " they acts of their own accord, he 

 told me ; the whole is an indulgence of their natural 

 propensities, as you call 'em." 



"But the game they hunt, what did he say of it?" 

 continued Hargrave. 



" Well, to be sure," replied Jem, " he said it must be 

 anything but comfortable when the dogs are pursuing it, 

 but its fate is soon settled, and there is no dying of 

 wounds, as there is from shooting and fishing." 



" But the very fact of the game-cock being the noble 

 animal he is," said Lord Edmonston, " is the reason why 

 he should be restrained from fighting without a natural 

 cause." 



" Man may be considered as the delegate of Heaven 

 over inferior creatures, but he has no right to torment 

 them unnecessarily. Then observe the character of the 

 cock, as he claps his wings before he crows ; how proud, 

 how courageous is his appearance ! The very lion himself 

 is said to fear him. At all events, his graceful attitude 



