The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-05-02
How They Got Even.

A practical joke was played nearly ~
years ago ut 4 cooking main in Havana by
some sailors belonging to an American
man-ot-war The sailors had been bet
ting and losing day after day at the cock
pit, which was the amusement that they
most affected, until they were all left
without cent. In that plight the sail
Ors were when the man-Otwar was or
dered off to San Francisco. A number
of months attcrward the vessel returned
to Havana, and the Jack Tars had fully
matured a scheme for vengeance. Draw
ing all their pay, and borrowing all the
money they could in addition, at the first
shore-leave they started for the cockpit,
carrying with them their gold and bag,
OF mystery.
Some of the ships officers surmising
that something was in the wind, followed,
but not even to them was the sailors Sc
cret divulgcd. Scarcely had they reached
the pit when an excited Spaniard sprang
into the little arena, where a battle had
lust ended Under his left arm he car
ricd magnificent game-cock; in his right
hand he tlourished a bag Of doubloons, and
he yelled forth Il challenge on behalf of
his bird against anything that wore
feathers.
No other challenge could have been
half so welcome to the sailors, for during
their former unhappy experience he had
been their 6ete noir, raking in their gold
pieces almost as fast as they could bet
them. His verbose and grandiloquent
defiance was promptly accepted, the money
was staked, and the Americans shook
their champion out Of the mysterious
bag.
A nondcscript creature he was with a
great solid body, roughly covered with
chicken feather and tar, its wings and
tail clipped, it's head broad and adorned
with a keen curved beak, with long, sharp
talons at the ends of its toes, instead of
gatfs upon his legs. Despite its strange
half disguise, the officer recognized it at
once as sn American eagle. But the
spaniards knew nothing ab1t it, and the
one who had made the match was furi-
Gus, deeming himself insulted by the pit
ting of such a miserable looking creature
against his splendid fowl. The alcalde
ordered, however, that the fight should
take place according to the terms of the
challenge, and the senior tossed his bird
into the pit. 1t was ready to fight, of
course, for game-cock Of good blood
would not hesitate to attack a bird as big
as the tabled roc. So, the first notice the
American game-chicken, as the sailors
had christened their bird, received of the
presence of the enemy was a fierce attack
He looked calmly down upon the game
cock strutting threateningly before him
The sailors were not without anxiety lest
the keen gafts might settle their eagle be.
fore he got warmed up to his work, but
fear was quickly dispelled. The game
cock dashed forward again. In less thar
second the spaniards witnessed an as
founding sight. The American
chicken" placidly stretched out one
great claw, siezed his antagonist by the
head, drew him up, and applying the
other claw to his body, tore his head of
with single pull. Then he proceeded t.
eat him. A storm of imprecations anc
shouts of astonishment rent the air, bu
the sailors were too we'll armed and tot
numerous for the Spaniards, and so the,
got their money and returned aboard thu
ship, laden with more gold than they eve
before had, and carrying their champion
in triumph.