Chapter Twenty Four.
The Odd Cock.
During all this time Congo watched the movement of the flock as well as the sun in his eyes would allow him.
He noticed that the cock that had been feeding apart from the rest had now got close up to them,—within a few yards; but that the others had arisen at his approach, and, stretching out their long necks, appeared to regard him as a stranger. After a moment all seven turned, as if alarmed at something, and ran away—the odd cock running after, though falling a little in the rear.
The flock only went for twenty yards or so, and then halted, as if they had got over their slight alarm.
The old cock again stalked slowly up, now and then dropping his head to the ground, and pecking up a grain or two of something on his way.
When he got close to the flock a second time, they seemed to take fresh alarm, ran twenty yards farther, and again stopped.
It appeared as if the old cock was a stranger to the rest, and that they considered his presence an intrusion!
Again he approached them, and again they made a short run; this time not in a direct line, but in a circle around him, so that they came back nearly to their original ground. This time, however, only the five hens ran off. Both the cocks remained near the spot; but the movements of these now puzzled Congo not a little.