Brothers of Pity and Other Tales of Beasts and Men Read online

  And what became of Flaps after they all left Hencastle? Well, he led hiscompany on and on, but they could find no suitable place to settle in;and when the fowls recovered from their fright, they began to think thatthey had abandoned the castle too hastily, and to lay the blame onFlaps.

  Mark himself said that he might have overestimated the number of theinvaders. There might not have been twenty-three, but really Flaps wasin such a hurry for the news, and one must say something when it wasone's duty to make a report.

  The three wise cocks objected to speak of themselves or their services,but they had had some experience on behalf of the community in times ofdanger, and in their opinion there had been a panic, and the hastyaction taken by Flaps was injudicious and regrettable.

  The oldest hen of Hencastle shook her feathers to show how much Flapswas in the wrong, and then puffed them out to show how much she was inthe right; and after clearing her throat almost as if she were going tocrow, she observed very shrilly that she "didn't care who contradictedher when she said that the common sense of the Mother of a Family wasenough to tell _her_ that an old dog, who had lost an eye and an ear anda leg, was no fit protector for the feminine and the young and theinexperienced."

  The chief cock was not so free of his opinions as the chief hen, but hegrumbled and scolded about everything, by which one may make mattersamply unpleasant without committing oneself or incurring responsibility.

  Another of the hens made a point of having no opinion. She said that washer way, she trusted everybody alike and bore her share of suffering,which was seldom small, without a murmur. But her good wishes werealways at any one's service, and she would say that she sincerely hopedthat a sad injustice had not been done to the red-haired gentleman withthe singularly agreeable manners, who would have been gatekeeper ofHencastle at this moment if it had not been for Flaps.

  Poor Flaps! Well might he say, "One ear is enough to listen to you with,you pack of ungrateful fools!"

  He was beginning to find out that, as a rule, the Helpless have a niceway with them of flinging all their cares upon the Helpful, andreserving their own energies to pick holes in what is done on theirbehalf; and that they are apt to flourish, in good health and poorspirits, long after such friends as Flaps have been worn out, bit bybit, in their service.

  "First an eye, then an ear, then a leg," the old dog growled to himself;"and there's not a fowl with a feather out of him. But I've done myduty, and that's enough."

  Matters went from bad to worse. The hens had no corn, and Flaps got noeggs, and the prospect of either home or food seemed very remote. Oneevening it was very rainy, the fowls roosted in a walnut-tree forshelter, and Flaps fell asleep at the foot of it.

  "Could anything be more aggravating than that creature's indifference?"said Hen No. 2. "Here we sit, wet to the skin, and there he lies asleep!Dear me! I remember one of my neck feathers got awry once, at dear oldHencastle (the pencilling has been a good deal admired in my time,though I say it that shouldn't), and the Red-haired Gentleman noticed itin a moment. I remember he put his face as close to mine as I am to you,but in the most gentlemanly manner, and murmured so softly,

  "'Excuse me--there's just one of those lovely little feathers the leastbit in the world--'

  "I believe it was actually between his lips, when we were interrupted,and I had to put it tidy myself. But we might all be plucked as bare aspoor young Scratchfoot before Flaps would think of smoothing us down.Just hear how he snores! Ah! it's a trying world, but I never complain."

  "I do, though," said the chief hen. "I'm not one to put up with neglect.Hi, there! are you asleep?" And scratching a bit of the rough bark offthe walnut-tree, she let it drop on to Flaps' nose.

  "I'm awake," said Flaps; "what's the matter?"

  "I never knew any one snore when he was awake before," said the hen; andall the young cockerels chuckled.

  "Well, I believe I was napping," said Flaps. "Damp weather always makesme sleepy, and I was dreaming of the old farmyard."

  "Poor old farm!" sighed Hen No. 2. "We had board and lodging there, atany rate."

  "And now we've neither," said Hen No. 1. "Mr. Flaps, do you know thatwe're wet to the skin, and dying of starvation, whilst you put your noseinto your great-coat pocket and go to sleep?"

  "You're right," said Flaps. "Something must be done this evening. But Isee no use in taking the whole community about in the rain. We will sendout another expedition."

  "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" screamed the three wise ones; "that means thatwe're to face the storm whilst you have another nap, eh?"

  "It seems an odd thing," said the chief cock, scratching his comb withhis claw, "that Flaps never thinks of going himself on theseexpeditions."

  "You're right," said Flaps. "It is an odd thing, for times out of mindI've heard our old friend, the farmer, say, 'If you want a thingdone--Go; if not--Send.' This time I shall go. Cuddle close to eachother, and keep up your spirits. I'll find us a good home yet."

  The fowls were much affected by Flaps' magnanimity, and with one voicethey cried: "Thank you, dear Flaps. Whatever you decide upon will do forus."

  And Mark added, "I will continue to act as watchman." And he went up tothe top of the tree as Flaps trotted off down the muddy road.

  All that evening and far into the night it rained and rained, and thefowls cuddled close to each other to keep warm, and Flaps did notreturn. In the small hours of the morning the rain ceased, and therain-clouds drifted away, and the night-sky faded and faded till it wasdawn.

  "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" said Mark, and all the fowls woke up.

  "What do you see and hear from the tree-top, dear Mark?" said they. "IsFlaps coming?"

  "Not a thing can I see From the top of the tree, But a long, winding lane That is sloppy with rain;"

  replied Mark. And the fowls huddled together again, and put their headsback under their wings.

  Paler and paler grew the grey sky, and at last it was broken with goldenbars, and at the first red streak that caught fire behind them, Markcrowed louder than before, and all the hens of Hencastle roused up forgood.

  "What do you see and hear from the tree-top, dear Mark?" they inquired."Is Flaps coming?"

  "Not a sound do I hear, And I very much fear That Flaps, out of spite, Has deserted us quite;"

  replied Mark. And the fowls said nothing, for they were by no means atease in their consciences.

  Their delight was proportionably great when, a few minutes later, thesentinel sang out from his post,

  "Here comes Flaps, like the mail! And he's waving his tail."

  "Well, dear, dear Flaps!" they all cackled as he came trotting up,"where is our new home, and what is it like?"

  "Will there be plenty to eat?" asked the cocks with one crow.

  "Plenty," replied Flaps.

  "Shall we be safe from mice, owls, wild beasts, and wild men?" cried thehens.

  "You will," answered Flaps.

  "Is it far, dear Flaps?"

  "It is very near," said Flaps; "but I may as well tell you the truth atonce--it's a farmyard."

  "Oh!--" said all the fowls.

  "We may be roasted, or have our heads chopped off," whimpered the youngcockerels.

  "Well, Scratchfoot was roasted at Hencastle," said Flaps; "and he wasn'tour only loss. One can't have everything in this world; and I assureyou, if you could see the poultry-yard--so dry under foot, nicely wiredin from marauders; the most charming nests, with fresh hay in them;drinking-troughs; and then at regular intervals, such abundance of corn,mashed potatoes, and bones, that my own mouth watered at--are servedout--"

  "That sounds good," said the young cockerels.

  "Ahem! ahem!" said the chief cock. "Did you see anything veryremarkable--were the specimens of my race much superior in strength andgood looks?----"

  "My dear cock!" said Flaps; "there's not a tail or a comb or a hackle totouch you. You'll be cock of the walk in no time."

  "Ahem! ahem!" said the chief cock
modestly. "I have always had a sort offatality that way. Pray, my dears, don't look so foolish and deplorable,but get the young people together, and let us make a start. Mr. Flaps isa person of strong common sense, a quality for which I myself havealways been remarkable, and I thoroughly endorse and support hisexcellent advice, of which I am the best judge. I have very muchregretted of late to observe a tendency in this family (I say atendency, for I hope it goes no further) to undervalue Mr. Flaps, andeven (I hardly like to allude to such reprehensible and disgustingabsurdity) to recall the memory of a vulgar red-haired impostor, whogained a brief entrance into our family circle. I am not consulted as Ishould be in these fluctuations of opinion, but there are occasions whenit is necessary that the head of a family should exercise his discretionand his authority, and, so to speak, put down his claw. I put down myclaw. We are going to Mr. Flaps' farmyard. Cock-a-doodle-dooCock-a-doodle-doo!"

  Now, when the head of a family says "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" there isnothing more to be said. So to the farmyard the whole lot of them went,and were there before the sun got one golden hair of his head over theroof of the big barn.

  And only Mark, as they all crowded into their new home, turned his headround over his back to say: "And you, Flaps; what shall you do?"

  "Oh, I shall be all right," said Flaps. "Good-bye and good luck to you."

  It cannot be said that Flaps was positively in high spirits when he hadsettled his proteges in their new home in the farmyard, and was leftalone; but there are some good folk who contrive to make duty do thework of pleasure in this life, and then a piece of business fairlyfinished is as good as a treat.

  It is not bread and bones, however, and Flaps was very hungry--so hungrythat he could not resist the temptation to make his way towards thefarmhouse, on the chance of picking up some scraps outside. And that washow it came about, that when the farmer's little daughter Daisy, with aface like the rosy side of a white-heart cherry set deep in a lilacprint hood, came back from going with the dairy lass to fetch up thecows, she found Flaps snuffing at the back door, and she put her armsround his neck (they reached right round with a little squeezing) andsaid:

  "Oh, I never knew you'd be here so early! You nice thing!"

  And Flaps' nose went right into the print hood, and he put out histongue and licked Daisy's face from the point of her chin up her rightcheek to her forehead, and then from her forehead down her left cheekback to her chin, and he found that she was a very nice thing too.

  But the dairymaid screamed, "Good gracious! where did that nasty strangedog come from? Leave him alone, Miss Daisy, or he'll bite your noseoff."

  "He won't!" said Daisy indignantly. "He's the dog Daddy promised me;"and the farmer coming out at that minute, she ran up to him crying,"Daddy! Isn't this my dog?"

  "Bless the child, no!" said the farmer; "it's a nice little pup I'mgoing to give thee. Where did that dirty old brute come from?"

  "He would wash," said little Daisy, holding very fast to Flaps' coat.

  "Fine washing too!" said the dairymaid, "And his hair's all lugs."

  "I could comb them," said Daisy.

  "He's no but got one eye," said the swineherd. "Haw! haw! haw!"

  "He sees me with the other," said Daisy. "He's looking up at me now."

  "And one of his ears gone!" cried the dairy lass. "He! he! he!"

  "Perhaps I could make him a cap," said Daisy, "as I did when my dolllost her wig. It had pink ribbons and looked very nice."

  "Why, he's lame of a leg," guffawed the two farming-men. "See, missy, hehirples on three."

  "I can't run very fast," said Daisy, "and when I'm old enough to,perhaps his leg will be well."

  "Why, you don't want this old thing for a play-fellow, child?" said thefarmer.

  "I do! I do!" wept Daisy.

  "But why, in the name of whims and whamsies?"

  "Because I love him," said Daisy.

  When it comes to this with the heart, argument is wasted on the head;but the farmer-went on: "Why he's neither useful nor ornamental. He'sbeen a good dog in his day, I dare say; but now--"

  At this moment Flaps threw his head up in the air and sniffed, and hisone eye glared, and he set his teeth and growled.

  He smelt the gipsy, and the gipsy's black pipe, and every hair stood onend with rage.

  "The dog's mad!" cried the swineherd, seizing a pitchfork.

  "You're a fool," said the farmer (who wasn't). "There's some one behindthat haystack, and the old watch-dog's back is up. See! there he runs;and as I'm a sinner, it's that black rascal who was loitering round, theday my ricks were fired, and you lads let him slip. Off after him, for Ifancy I see smoke." And the farmer flew to his haystacks.

  Hungry and tired as he was, Flaps would have pursued his old enemy, butDaisy would not let him go. She took him by the ear and led him indoorsto breakfast instead. She had a large basin of bread-and-milk, and shedivided this into two portions, and gave one to Flaps and kept the otherfor herself. And as she says she loves Flaps, I leave you to guess whogot most bread-and-milk.

  That was how the gipsy came to live for a time in the county gaol, wherehe made mouse-traps rather nicely for the good of the rate-payers.

  And that was how Flaps, who had cared so well for others, was well caredfor himself, and lived happily to the end of his days.

  * * * * *

  "Why, it's in print!" said Father Cock; "and I said as plain as any cockcould crow, that it was a secret. Now, who let it out?"

  "Don't talk to me about secrets," said the fair foreigner; "I nevertrouble my head about such things."

  "Some people are very fond of drawing attention to their heads," saidthe common hen; "and if other people didn't think more of a greatunnatural-looking chignon than of all the domestic virtues put together,they might have their confidences respected."

  "I's all very well," said Father Cock, "but you're all alike. There'snot a hen can know a secret without going and telling it."

  "Well, come!" said a little Bantam hen, who had newly arrived;"whichever hen told it, the cock must have told it first."

  "What's that ridiculous nonsense your talking?" cried the cock; and heran at her and pecked her well with his beak.

  "Oh! oh! oh!" cried the Bantam.

  Dab, dab, dab, pecked the cock.

  "Now! has anybody else got anything to say on the subject?"

  But nobody had. So he flew up on to the wall, and cried"Cock-a-doodle-doo!"

  A WEEK SPENT IN A GLASS POND.

  BY THE GREAT WATER-BEETLE.