BATTLE OF THE TURKEYS. 39 



to have his own territory invaded in this 

 impudent way was altogether beyond his 

 Turkish endurance. Foaming with indigna- 

 tion, he shouted his war-cry, and set his 

 army in battle array. He did not form a 

 square, in accordance with the warlike 

 method of his adopted country he preferred 

 the plan of his native land ; he disposed his 

 troops in a long single line, and then, in 

 trumpet-like voice, "Show me," said he, 

 "whose men you be, that hunt so boldly 

 here ! " 



Meanwhile the wily chief of the opposing 

 forces had not been idle ; he, too, had mar- 

 shalled his men. If their arms were a score, 

 " their hearts were but one," and he hurled 

 back his defiant reply : 



" We list not to declare," said he, 

 " Nor show whose men we be : 

 Yet will we spend our dearest blood, 

 Thy chiefest hens to slay." 



Our Sultan swore a solemn oath, and thus in 

 rage did say : 



"Ere thus I will outbraved be, 

 One of us two shall die. 

 Let thou and I the battle try 

 And set our men aside." 



But the young cocks and hens on either side 

 were as eager for battle as their chiefs, and 



