The cocks were in full tilt, springing into
one another, and the people were as eager, laughing and shouting, as
though the combatants had been men. There had been a disappointment
about the bull; he had broken his bail, and taken himself off, and
it was too late to get another; so the people were obliged to put up
with a cock-fight. One of the bantams having been knocked in the head,
and had an eye put out, he gave in, and two monstrous prize-cocks were
brought on. These were the object of the whole affair; the two bantams
having been merely served up as a first course, to collect the
people together. Two fellows came into the ring holding the cocks in
their arms, and stroking them, and running about on all fours,
encouraging and setting them on. Bets ran high, and, like most other
contests, it remained for some time undecided. They both showed
great pluck, and fought probably better and longer than their
masters would have done. Whether, in the end, it was the white or
the red that beat, I do not recollect; but, whichever it was, he
strutted off with the true veni-vidi-vici look, leaving the other
lying panting on his beam-ends.
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