CHICKENS 
Secundus never crowed, while Jupiter loved to mount 
on a hurdle and crow loudly, as if he were calling 
attention to his beauty and strength. Meanwhile 
Secundus was growing stronger and stronger every 
day. 
The autumn came. In the field where the 
poultry lived there was a fir-tree, in which they loved 
to roost. One evening, being full of pride, Jupiter 
suddenly made up his mind that he would not allow 
Secundus to go into that tree at all. Nobody saw 
exactly what happened then, but, less than an hour 
after, Jupiter was found lying under the tree, utterly 
defeated, covered with mud, and with no more spirit 
in him. Above in the tree sat Secundus, king in 
Jupiter’s place. 
In a day or two the white Cock recovered his 
beauty of plumage, but not his pride. He lived 
apart, sadly, as Secundus had once done. He was 
never again heard to crow, but his victorious rival 
was often heard loudly proclaiming that he was 
indeed lord and master. 
84 
