[Illustration:  A wounded hero]

Ere dusk the King’s troops had retreated,
By Tiger’s Rebel band defeated;
They ran pell-mell and helter-skelter,
For any place to give them shelter.

The Elephant, though he was wounded,
Ran faster than the big Baboon did;
The Owl to Camp flew like a bird
To tell the King what had occurred.

Rejoicings in the Rebel Camp

Rejoicings in the Rebel Camp
  Were great indeed that night;
Each tent hung out a Chinese lamp
  To celebrate the fight.

They sang and shouted, o’er and o’er,
  Until their throats were tired;
They let off fireworks by the score,
  A “feu de joie” was fired.

When Wolf, who’s not a marksman good,
  Shot holes in Bear’s new hat,
Bear never even said, “You should
  Apologise for that!”

In short, they would, as like as not,
  Have kept it up till day;
Had someone not found out they’d shot
  Their powder all away.

[Illustration:  Rejoicings in the rebel Camp]

Marching on the King’s Capital.

Next morn, with victory elate,
“Why should we wait or hesitate? 
We’ll march at once, without delay,
Upon the Capital!” cried they.

“That’s capital!” a Monkey said,
(But he at once was sent to bed!)
But, all the same, it was agreed,
So General Tiger took the lead.

With flying flags and drums rat-tan
The Rebels’ onward march began. 
Cried Tiger, “Leoville one mile!”
“That’s nothing!” said the Crocodile.

But Wolf, who kept a good look-out,
Saw Private Whiskers out on scout. 
“Ha, ha,” cried he, “I’ve caught a spy—­
That means promotion by and by!”

[Illustration:  Marching on the King’s capital]

“Great victory!” said Wolf, with pride,
  And showed his prize with rapture;
“Well done, indeed,” the Tiger cried,
  “A most important capture!”

The Battle.

Soon with the Lion’s gallant troops
  The Rebels were engaged;
This way and that, ’midst wildest whoops
  The tide of battle raged.

The Elephant first sounded “Charge!”
  And valiant deeds performed;
The Rebels saw his trunk so large,
  And trembled when he stormed.

At first, though, neither side gained much;
  But when ’twas paw to paw,
The Owl, in his report, said, “Such
  A fight I never saw!”

Said Wolf, “No more at war I’ll scoff,
  I think I’d best begone!”
And when the foe’s last gun went off
  The battle still went on.

[Illustration:  The battle]

The Cavalry Charge.

But, oh! the finest sight to see
Was Leo’s Giraffe Cavalry;
As down the battle plain they tore,
The Rebels saw that all was o’er.