THE PHEASANT 
notice of anything but the Cock's angry red 
face. They stood bill to bill for a minute, 
making little feinting springs into the air. 
Then they closed, and the watching hens could 
see nothing but a whirl of ruffled feathers as 
they skirmished round the tree trunks. The 
" Chickery-Cock " had spurs twice as long as 
those of the Pheasant, and moreover he had 
proved them many times on raiding cats, and 
egg-stealing rats in his hen-house ; but although 
Creaban was inexperienced he was the nimblest 
bird on his feet, and did not often allow his 
antagonist to come to close quarters. The Cock 
drew deep hissing breaths, but Creaban thrust 
and feinted silently. The Cock's full wattles 
hung on either side of his bill Creaban 
suddenly sprang in and caught hold of the lobe 
on the left side. The Cock fluttered this way 
and that, and jumped two feet into the air to 
shake off his enemy, but Creaban clung on, 
and struck with his spurs whenever he saw an 
opening. Bruised and bewildered, the Cock 
made for the yard, dragging the Pheasant with 
him. As he crept under the gate he managed 
to shake himself free, but by now Creaban was 
so full of the joy of battle that he had no room 
for any other thought, and without looking 
where he was going, he ran eagerly after his 
enemy. The farmhouse door was shut fast, for 
179 
