With horror he watched the Monster approaching. It was at that moment quite a distance away, but, because of the peculiar conformation of the wheat patch, it happened to be headed straight in the direction of the barnyard.
"Defend your nests!" he cried.
Not a bird heeded him.
"I think the meals here are getting awfully skimpy," remarked one hen to another.
"Indeed they are. I almost wish I'd stayed at home and gotten a pick-up lunch. Still, we can go over after this to the cold buffet at the pig pen."
At one side of the social gathering Clarence was chatting with the turkey.
"Come on, let's get over here out of this mob of hen-folks. They get on one's nerves sometimes.—Have a chew of spear-weed?"
"Thanks."
"Say. Heard a good one the other day. There was a young pullet who had never laid an egg, and she...."
"Heavens!" cried Eustace. "How can you joke at a time like this!"