e wood where they had made
the acquaintance of the Vixen and the Badger; and there they were left
alone. For there came a hard frost which covered the moor with white
rime, and, though it sometimes sent them far afield for food, still
saved them from annoyance by hounds. But the poor Blackbirds and
Thrushes suffered much, for they were weak for want of food; and often
the Calf would see them in the hedges crawling over the dead leaves,
unable to fly. And then the old Vixen would come round (for she was
still there, though all her Cubs were scattered), and pick up the
poor struggling little birds, and make what meal she could of them,
though there was little left of them but skin and bone; for she too
was ravenous with hunger.

But at last the frost broke up and the warm rain came, and the days
grew longer, and the sun gathered strength. So after a time they began
to wander over the skirt of the moor again, and thus one day they saw
a curious sight. For in the midst of the heather stood a number of
Greyhens, looking very sober, and modest and respectable, and round
them, in a ring worn bare by the trampling of their feet, a number of
Blackcocks were dancing like mad creatures, with their beautiful
plumage fluffed out and their wings half spread, to show what handsome
fellows they were. While they watched them one splendid old Cock came
waltzing slowly round, with his feathers all gleaming in the chill
sunshine, and all the time looking out of the corner of his eye at one
of the Hens. And as generally happens when people look one way and go
another, particularly if they chance to be waltzing, he ran full
against another Cock, who was just in front of him, and nearly knocked
him over. Whereupon he asked the other Cock very angrily, "Now then,
where be coming to?"

But the other answered quite as angrily: "If you come knacking agin me
again like that, you old dumphead, I'll spoil your plumes for 'ee, I
will."

Then the old bird shook out all his feathers in a towering passion,
and said: "_You_ spoil my plumes, you little, miser'ble,
dirty-jacketed roog! You spoil my plumes! If you dare to come anigh
me, I'll give 'ee such a dressing as you won't get over this side
midsummer. I'll teach 'ee to call me dumphead!"

But the other was quite as quarrelsome, and answered very rudely: "You
give me a dressing? I'd like to see 'ee try it. Git out of the way,
and don't come here telling of your dressings. I bean't afeard to call