I passed about a week in this coop; we were well fed, as our keeper
wished to make us fat. One night we were alarmed with a tremendous
noise, I turned to inquire the cause, when I saw the brave white cock
trembling like a chick: oh! said he, give yourselves over now, nothing
can save us from destruction, we shall all be devoured; no sooner had he
said this, but a large fox entered; Oh! my children, how can I describe
the horrors of the bloody scene which followed, even at this distance of
time, the recollection draws tears from my eyes; I alone remained of all
my companions; he was advancing to me, when some noise in the yard
frightened him, and he ran away, leaving me more dead than alive with
fright.
After he had been gone some time, I considered that if I stayed where I
was, in a few days I should be taken to market: the board which the fox
had broken down, offered the way to escape; but where was I to go to,
how should I know the way to the cottage of Ann? but the market was
worse to my imagination than any other thing. I went through the
opening, flew down, and found myself in the open road, I ran as fast as
possible, only stopping to take breath, or a mouthful of food; many
frights had I before night, from dogs, boys, &c. As the sun was setting,
I came to a fine large garden, with a high wall round it; I flew to the
top, and not seeing any person in it, I thought I would look out for
some grubs, or worms, in a fine bed of newly turned up mould, and then
go to rest upon one of the trees; I had scarcely began my search, when I
found in the ground some very pleasant tasted seeds, which I began to
devour, when I received a blow upon my wing from a stone, and looking
up, I beheld the gardener coming forward in a furious passion. So I have
now discovered who it is that scratches up all my seeds; but these are
the last you shall ever taste, believe me; saying this, he seized me in
the most brutal manner. I screamed violently; by this time, another man
came up, and said, Why, Thomas, what will you do with it? if it had been
a cock, you might have had fine sport with it, in throwing sticks at it.
And why can't I at a hen, pray? Oh, why nobody ever does. Well then, I
will be the first to throw; I will take her to the village, tie her to a
stake, and the boys shall have a throw for a halfpenny a piece.
While they were carrying me away, a lovely looking boy asked them what
they were going to do with me. To make a cock-shye. Master, what is
that? To throw sticks at it till it is killed. Oh, heavens! you surely
are jesting, you cannot have so much barbarity? As to that, it has had
the barbarity to eat up my seeds, to repay me for them, the nasty
creature shall pay its life.
The young gentleman, whose name was Augustus Manly, entreated that he
might purchase me, and offered half a crown; but the man determined I
should have a few blows, and tied me to the stake, when Augustus seeming
to be inspired with more than ordinary courage, threw down his half
crown, and lifting me from the ground, when the barbarous gardeners were
not looking, ran off with me in his arms: the men could not overtake him
by running, but were cowardly enough to throw a stone, which struck me
on the breast; but by the care of this humane boy, I soon entirely
recovered.