ratching in an
imaginary dust-heap, and then, with a loud crow, stretched its wings and
flew up into a small tree.

This was disconcerting. The policeman turned with anger upon the crowd.

"I told you you were not giving the critter a chance!" he exclaimed.
"You'd best be off home. Come, move on! Move on!"

The crowd retreated, but it had no intention of going home. Some of
those less interested strolled away, but the partisans of Bob and Jimmy
remained at a little distance, eagerly watching to see what would happen
next.

The cock, after jerking his head round several times, settled down
comfortably among his feathers, and went to sleep in the tree.

This was altogether beyond the expectancy of the policeman. Not knowing
what else to do, he sat down on a broken bit of fence under the tree and
waited.

The day advanced. The cock slept on and the policeman began to doze. Now
and then he awoke with a start, and looked up at the obstinate biped
above his head. Presently the man got down from the fence and shook
himself.

The partisans of Bob and Jimmy still remained at a discreet distance,
watching the progress of events. The policeman stood still for a few
moments, staring at the cock; then he approached the small, stumpy tree
and clapped his hands vigorously.

The cock woke up, gurgled, and went to sleep again.

The policeman clapped his hands a second time, and then with shrill
indignation the creature flew down from the tree, and set off in the
direction of the distant moors.

The proceedings promptly assumed the aspect of a hunt. The cock ran
along with outstretched wings and neck, and the policeman and the crowd
ran after it. At last it reached a small cottage, belonging to a widow
of the name of Gammer. Exerting a final effort, it flew up toward her
open window and ensconced itself on the top of the good woman's
tester-bed.

Now Mrs. Gammer was a woman of character. She heard the noise outside;
and when the breathless policeman arrived at the door of her kitchen,
she was wiping the soapsuds off her plump red arms, ready for any
dispute or fray. She stood with her arms held akimbo, as the man in blue
explained his errand. When he had finished his recital she looked at him
defiantly.

"And I should like to know what you call yourself, policeman or no
policeman, to be chasing a poor harmless critter across 'em blazing
commons on a day like this! You want to go and poke him down from my
tester-bed, do y