those
that were not fighting that morning--he added, and the man whom the
woman nicknamed The Heeler, a nickname acquired from the dexterity with
which he fitted the cock's heels with soft leather pads, said: you see,
master, they may fight and buffet one another for a space without
injury.

Joseph watched the birds advance and retire and pursue each other, and
after this exhibition they were put back into their baskets and covered
with hay. So you are the Heeler? Joseph asked. The man grinned vacantly,
and the woman answered for him. There is none like him in this country
for fixing a pair of spurs, for cutting the tail and wings and
shortening the hackle and the rump feathers. You see, young Master, the
comb is cut close so that there shall be no mark for t'other bird's
bill. And who knows but you'd like to see the spurs, Master. And she
showed him spurs of two kinds, for there are cocks that fight better
with long spurs and cocks that fight better with short. And how many
days does it take to train a cock? Joseph asked, and they began to tell
him that a fighting cock must be fed with bread and spring water, and
have his exercise--running and sparring--every day. It was the woman
that kept Joseph in chat, for the men were busy carrying the baskets
over the stile and placing them in mule cars that were waiting in the
lane. But, young Master, she said, if you've never seen a cock-fight
come with us, for a better one you'll never live to see. The best birds
in Western Asia will be in Tiberias to-day. Joseph did not answer this
invitation at once, for he did not altogether like this woman nor her
manner of standing near to him, her black shining eyes fixed upon him.
But he was like one infected, and could not escape from his desire to
see a cock-fight. He knew that Azariah would never forgive him for
keeping him waiting ... waiting for how long? he asked himself. Till he
cares to wait no longer, his conscience answered him. He was going to
get into great trouble, but he could not say no to the cockers, and he
followed them, asking himself when he should escape from the evil spirit
which--at their instigation, perhaps--had taken possession of him. A
moment after he was assuring himself that the folk he had fallen in with
were ignorant of everything but cockering, without knowledge of
witchcraft, star-mongering or sortilege--the servants of some great
Roman, without doubt, which was sufficient assurance that though they
mi