WILD LIFE ON THE WING 
it was too early for men to be astir. A big 
black sheep-dog sprang to the end of his chain 
and barked vociferously, and a pair of goats 
wheeled round to stare at the intruder. But 
Creaban cared for none of these things. He 
saw the " Chickery-Cock's " waving tail plumes 
disappear through the little open hatch in the 
fowl-house door, and he gave chase forthwith. 
Inside, it was dusty and very dark. Before 
Creaban could take his bearings in the un- 
accustomed gloom, the Cock rushed out from 
an ambush in the corner and knocked the 
breath out of his body. The awestruck hens 
loitering outside the door, heard the confused 
sounds of the battle that raged within ; and 
although none of them dared to enter they 
added their voices to the hubbub. It says 
much for the just consciences of the family 
asleep in the house next door that they did not 
awaken sooner ; but presently there was a 
short armistice in the hen-house, and during 
the interval a window was thrown up, and a 
voice screamed outside : " O whirrah, whirrah 
me little hins ! Shure the fox is got in to thim, 
and they roarin' like the divil and his childher. 
Go down now, ye lazy omadhawn " 
Creaban heard the dreaded voice of man, and 
ran wildly round the place looking for a way 
of escape. For the moment he forgot about 
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