He had heard the old peacock screeching on the top of a tall tree; he had stolen up within bow range, sent an arrow through his glittering gorget, and brought him tumbling to the ground.

He had then laid his vulgar hands upon the beautiful bird, grasping it by the legs, and carrying it with draggling wings--just as if it had been a common dunghill fowl he was taking to the market of Calcutta.
Karl and Caspar did not choose to waste time in telling the shikaree how near they had been to leaving him the sole and undisputed possessor of that detached dwelling and the grounds belonging to it.

Hunger prompted them to defer the relation to a future time; and also to lend a hand in the culinary operations already initiated by Ossaroo.

By their aid, therefore, a fire was set ablaze; and the peacock, not very cleanly plucked, was soon roasting in the flames--Fritz having already made short work with the giblets..