be something to the injury of Kapchack, and resenting the manner in which he had been hustled from the

council, declared that he would carry it without a moment's delay.

"Go

"Go then, my friend," said the Weasel. straight to Choo Hoo, and say 'The Weasel is appointed to the command of king Kapchack's army, and will supersede Ki Ki, the hawk, upon the third day. On that day he will lead forth the army to the south, professing to go upon a flank march, and to take you in the rear. Be not deceived by this movement, but so soon as you see that the guards are withdrawn from the frontier, cross the border in force, and proceed straight towards the palace. When Kapchack's army finds you between it and its base of supplies it will disperse, and you will obtain an easy victory.

"And in proof of his good will towards you, the Weasel, furthermore, bade me inform you of the great secret which has hitherto been preserved with such care, and which will enable your army to remain in this place all the winter. In the Squirrel's copse there is a spring, which is never frozen, but always affords excellent drinking water, and moistens a con

siderable extent of ground."

This was the Weasel's

message, and without a moment's delay the Humblebee buzzed away direct to Choo Hoo's camp.

At the same time the fly with the mole's message reached Ki Ki, the hawk, as he was soaring among the clouds. Ki Ki having finished his observations, and full of suspicions as to the object with which the king had despatched the thrush to Choo Hoo, decided to keep the mole's appointment at once, so down he flew direct to the leaning stone in the meadow, where Bevis had gathered the cowslips, and found the mole already waiting for him.

Now, the mole hated Ki Ki exceedingly, because, as previously related, he had killed his wife, but he hated the Weasel, who had persecuted him all his life, even more, and by thus betraying the Weasel to the Hawk he hoped to set the two traitors by the ears, and to gratify his own vengeance by seeing them tear each other to pieces. Accordingly he now informed Ki Ki of everything—how the Weasel had disclosed the names of all those who attended the secret meeting (exeept one, i.e., the Owl, which, for reasons of his own, the Weasel had suppressed), particularly stating that Ki Ki had taken a foremost part,

that Kapchack was enraged against the Hawk, and had already promised the Weasel the chief command, so that in three days Ki Ki would be superseded.

Ki Ki, suppressing his agitation, thanked the mole very cordially for his trouble, and soared towards the sky, but he had scarce gone a hundred yards before one of Kapchack's bodyguard met him with a message from the king countermanding the advance of the army which had been decided upon. Ki Ki replied that his majesty's orders should be implicitly obeyed, and continued his upward flight. He had now

no doubt that what the mole had told him was correct in every particular, since it had been SO immediately confirmed, and as for the thrush, it seemed clear that Kapchack had some design of saving himself by the sacrifice of his friends. That must be his reason for countermanding the advanceto give time for negotiation. Angry beyond measure, Ki Ki flew to his own clump of trees, and calling to him a keen young hawk-one of his guard, and who was only too delighted to be selected for confidential employment-sent him with a flag of truce to Choo

Hoo.

He was to say that Ki Ki, being disgusted with

the treachery of king Kapchack, had determined to abandon his cause, and that on the day of battle in the midst of the confusion, if Choo Hoo would push forward rapidly, Ki Ki would draw off his contingent and expose the centre, when Kapchack must inevitably be destroyed. Away flew the hawk, and thus in one hour Choo Hoo received. three messengers.

CHAPTER X.

TRAITORS.

THE first that arrived was the thrush, bearing the message from the king. Choo Hoo, delighted beyond expression at so pleasant a solution of the business, which he knew must, if it came to battle, entail great slaughter of his friends, received the thrush with the highest honours, called his principal counsellors around him, and acceded to everything king Kapchack had proposed. The territory should be equally divided: Choo Hoo to have the plains, and Kapchack the woods and hills, and peace should be proclaimed, Choo Hoo engaging to support Kapchack against all domestic enemies and traitors. This treaty having been completed, the thrush made as if about to depart, but Choo Hoo would in no wise permit this. "Remain with us," he said,

my dear thrush, till the evening, feast and make merry."