The turkey gave one scream and relaxed its muscles.

Then it fled in disfigured defeat to the haystack.

Billy scrambled to his feet holding the tail, while his eyes were bulging.
"Why, the blasted old thing came off!" he said to Wesley, holding out the tail in amazed wonder.
The man, caught suddenly, forgot everything and roared.

Seeing which, Billy thought a turkey tail of no account and flung that one high above him shouting in wild childish laughter, when the feathers scattered and fell.
Margaret, watching, began to cry.

Wesley had gone mad.