OUR COUNTRY LIFE 



liked the best directly in front of the door. I seated 

 myself not too near with the camera and the door was 

 opened. The procession began at once, led by 

 the gamey cock who scorned to hurry although his 

 mates, after one indignant glance at me, hastened to 

 overtake him on the other side of the trellis. A brood 

 of week-old chicks in a flutter of excitement tumbled 

 out of the spacious opening accompanied by their anx- 

 ious mother with many warnings. A young rooster 

 drooped his wings haughtily as he stalked by, the sun 

 flashing into color his iridescent plumage. Fat 

 pullets — my mouth watered at sight of them — hopped 

 gravely down the little step to the gravel and, bantam 

 after bantam, little and big, not bestowing even a hesi- 

 tating glance at the tempting dainties so lavishly dis- 

 played, with one accord took their separate and 

 immediate departure for the woods. 



They said so plainly: "We are outraged at being 

 kept shut up until this hour; we know that it was for 

 some evil purpose; we do not accept your hospitality; 

 we are perfectly equal to getting our own living, and, 



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