THE CAT 



A Sea Fight 



"Prince," said the White Cat, "let us be 

 merry. I have ordered a naval combat between 

 my cats and the terrible rats of this country. My 

 cats will perhaps be a little embarrassed because 

 they fear the water ; but otherwise they would have 

 had too much the advantage, and one should equal- 

 ise matters as far as one is able." 



The Prince admired the wisdom of the Cat, and 

 went with her to a terrace overlooking the sea and 

 the assembled fleets. The ships in which the cats 

 embarked were made of pieces of cork, and sailed 

 buoyantly over the waves. The rats had joined 

 together a number of egg-shells, and into these 

 their sailors bravely climbed. The battle was hard 

 fought. The rats never hesitated to fling them- 

 selves into the water, and, because they swam so 

 well, they were many times on the point of victory. 

 But Minagrobis, admiral of the feline fleet, saved 

 it from disaster. He attacked and promptly de- 

 voured the enemy's great captain, a wise and ex- 

 perienced old rat, who had been three times around 

 the world, and whose death filled his followers with 

 despair. 



The White Cat would not, however, permit the 

 destruction of the enemy. She was a sagacious 



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