THE PHEASANT-HEN
Everyone sings!

A JAY
[Darting past like a streak of blue lightning.] Ha, ha!

THE WOODPECKER
The Jay shakes with homeric laughter.

THE PHEASANT-HEN
[Crying in the midst of the music of the morning.] Let him live!

THE JAY
[Again darting past.] Ha, ha!

A CUCKOO
[In the distance.] Cuckoo!

THE PHEASANT-HEN
I abdicate!

PATOU
[Lifting his eyes heavenward.] She abdicates!

THE PHEASANT-HEN
Forgive, O Light, to whom I dared dispute him!  Dazzle the eye taking
aim, and be victory awarded, O Sunbeams—­

THE JAY and the CUCKOO
[Far away.] Ha!  Cuckoo!

THE PHEASANT-HEN —­to your powder of gold—­[A shot.  She gives a sharp cry, ending in a dying voice.]—­over man’s black powder! [Silence.]

CHANTECLER’S VOICE
[Very far away.] Cock-a-doodle-doo!

ALL
[In a glad cry.] Saved!

THE RABBITS [Capering gaily out of their burrows.] Let us turn somersets among the thyme!

A VOICE
[Fresh and solemn, among the trees.] O God of birds!

THE RABBITS [Stopping short in their antics stand abruptly still; soberly.] The morning prayer!

THE WOODPECKER
[Crying to the PHEASANT-HEN.] They are coming to examine the trap!

THE PHEASANT-HEN
[Closes her eyes in resignation.] So be it!

THE VOICE IN THE TREES
God by whose grace we wake to this new day—­

PATOU
[Before leaving.] Hush!  Drop the curtain!  Men folk are coming! [Off.]

[All the woodland creatures hide.  The PHEASANT-HEN is left alone, and, held down by the snare, with spread wings and panting breast, awaits the approach of the giant.]

CURTAIN