“Thereheisagain，““Headhim，““Letdrive，““Ihadhimthere，“
“Takecarewhereyou’rethrowing，Madman。“Theshoutsmighthavebeenheardaquarterofamileoff。Theywereheardsometwohundredyardsoffbyafarmerandtwoofhisshepherds，whoweredoctoringsheepinafoldinthenextfield。
Now，thefarmerinquestionrentedahouseandyardsituateattheendofthefieldinwhichtheyoungbird-fanciershadarrived，whichhouseandyardhedidn’toccupyorkeepanyoneelsein。Nevertheless，likeabrainlessandunreasoningBriton，hepersistedinmaintainingonthepremisesalargestockofcocks，hens，andotherpoultry。Ofcourse，allsortsofdepredatorsvisitedtheplacefromtimetotime:foxesandgipsieswroughthavocinthenight；whileinthedaytime，I
regrettohavetoconfessthatvisitsfromtheRugbyboys，andconsequentdisappearancesofancientandrespectablefowlswerenotunfrequent。TomandEasthadduringtheperiodoftheiroutlawryvisitedthefarminquestionforfeloniouspurposes，andononeoccasionhadconqueredandslainaduckthere，andborneawaythecarcasstriumphantly，hiddenintheirhandkerchiefs。However，theyweresickenedofthepracticebythetroubleandanxietywhichthewretchedduck’sbodycausedthem。TheycarriedittoSallyHarrowell’s，inhopesofagoodsupper；butshe，afterexaminingit，madealongface，andrefusedtodressorhaveanythingtodowithit。Thentheytookitintotheirstudy，andbeganpluckingitthemselves；butwhattodowiththefeathers，wheretohidethem？
“Goodgracious，Tom，whatalotoffeathersaduckhas！“groanedEast，holdingabagfulinhishand，andlookingdisconsolatelyatthecarcass，notyethalfplucked。