THE PHEASANT 
a semicircle made a counter-attack on the 
Pheasant's flank. 
If the " Chickery-Cock " had been a pen-fed 
bird he would have stood no chance against 
Creaban's forest training ; but as it was he was 
accustomed to forage far afield, so that his 
muscles were toughened with exercise, and as 
far as nimbleness went he was a match for the 
Pheasant. Moreover he was much the heavier 
bird, and compared to those of Creaban, his 
great spurs were as cutlasses to " knuckle- 
dusters." Again and again he drove his rival 
from the field, but before he could call up his 
wives to celebrate the victory, the Pheasant was 
back again, his tail quills bent, his breast feathers 
kicked awry, but eager as ever for another 
bout. The " Chickery-Cock " had righteous 
motive too. The wood was his : he had foraged 
in it for two summers and none had disputed 
his right. Neither hawk nor cat dared threaten 
his seraglio when he was by : the smell of man 
was upon him, and he carried something of 
the fear and puissance of man into the wood. 
But this audacious interloper showed no fear of 
him : he struck and ripped and pommelled him 
his spur was red and yet he could not drive 
him from his domain. Indeed it taxed all his 
strength and skill to keep him at bay. 
Nevertheless at the twelfth round Creaban was 
197 
