THE GAME COCK. 
283 
Cook: 
a strong kerseymere gaiter, and repeated the attack, in spite 
of some severe kicks which it was found necessary to inflict 
in self-defence. Nothing daunted, though occasionally fairly 
kicked several yards, like a foot-hall, he would still come on 
as fiercely as ever, for three or four times. 
During one of these assaults he received an injury which 
lamed him for a week; hut no sooner had he recovered 
than he became as pugnacious as ever. His reasoning, too, 
appeared to be on a par with his courage, for he soon dis- 
covered that women were protected by the lower part of their 
dress ; and accordingly, instead of flying at their legs and 
feet, he invariably flew at their heads, fixing himself on their 
shoulders. To such a degree did he carry on this warfare, 
that the female who had charge of feeding the fowls, and had 
been accustomed to poultry all her life, never ventured into 
the yard without some weapon of defence. His offensive 
operations were carried on with such persevering spirit, that 
for fear of his doing some serious injury, particularly to 
children, it was at last found necessary to destroy him. 
