with pointed out to him their master among a group of the jews from he was told came to these games and this caused his conscience to for he had heard his father speak of the jews as did not hold such views but what his s views were about cock fighting joseph did not know and when he asked if he might approach the ring he was told that the circle about the ring was for the and those whom they might invite but he d be able to see very well from where he was the seemed to him an and proud people and conscious of an innate hostility he watched them as they leaned over the railing that enclosed the fighting ring the brook talking among themselves sometimes however to call a jew to join them the jews came to them hoping that the honour bestowed upon them did not escape notice and joseph s ear caught phrases young sir it is reported you ve a bird that will down all comers and sir we can offer you but a poor show of birds those at rome a sudden silence fell which was broken by the falling of and joseph was told that the throw would decide which seven birds were to begin we have won the throw was whispered in his ear we ve the advantage but why it was an advantage to fight from the right rather than from the left joseph was too excited to inquire for the had just been put into the ring or pit and joseph recognised the tall bird that the had taken out of his basket in the orchard he s fighting to day with long spurs he was told but why does he fight the other bird � a he heard the woman ask and he saw a black cock to meet the red in deadly fight must one die he asked but the were too intent on the battle to answer his question the birds re and leaped aside avoiding each other s rushes and before long it became clear even to joseph that their bird though stronger than the younger bird did not spring as high or as easily a good bird he heard the servants say there ll be a battle for it my word there will and our bird will win if the young one doesn t get his stroke in quickly an old bird will tire out a young bird as these words were spoken the black cock dashed in and with a quick stroke sent his spur through the red bird s head he s gone this time beyond thy care and tears came into s eyes i m sorry i d have liked to have seen him end his days happily among the a treading of them joseph felt he had not rightly understood her and when he inquired out her meaning from her she told it with so repulsive a that he could not the brook conquer a sudden dislike he moved away from her immediately and asked her no more questions more were set to fight and they fought to the death always only once did a cock turn tail and refuse to continue the combat to persuade him to be brave the slave in charge placed him breast to breast with his adversary but despite all encouragement he turned tail and hid himself in the now what will happen to him joseph asked first he ll be cut and then for the spit or the the answered look young master and turning his eyes whither the s finger pointed joseph saw the bird s owner sign to the slave that he was to twist the bird s neck which was done and the went into a basket by himself � he did not deserve to be with those that had been slain in combat the ring was now covered with blood and feathers and two slaves came with of water and to clean it and while this office was being performed many fell to drinking from which their slaves handed to them the man who had told his slave to his cock s neck regretted that he had done so the punishment would have been to hand the bird over to a large that would have plucked the bird feather by feather examining each feather curiously before selecting the next one and he swore a great oath by and then as if to annoy the jews by that the next of his birds that refused combat should be served this way our master will not put us on the cross for so a bird s courage joseph heard the say and up against joseph and it was her as much as the memory of the oaths he had heard uttered and that were being uttered and that would be uttered again as soon as the fighting commenced that set him thinking of the on the wall � that he would teach him no more but the which joseph knew well showed that he had not missed an the brook hour for many months but a whole day s absence was something more than any he had ever indulged in before and the only reason he could give for it would be the one that the had a demon take possession of him another pair of was already in the ring two young birds trained to the finest distinction and they so that even the could not the victor but there was no heart in joseph for more cock fighting and he viewed with disgust the mean vile faces that at him while he thanked them for the occasion which he owed them of overlooking so much fine sport but they were a lot than he had supposed though he had suspected from the first that they were some trick against him and he searched himself for he would 