would never marry a one-eyed bird. Kapchack, full of jealousy, bethought him that it was high time to destroy his heir's good looks, so he attempted to peck out his left eye in accordance with the usage of the house.

"But Tchack-tchack having now learnt the secret, vain of his beauty, and determined to have the lovely jay at any cost, was alive to the trick, and eluded his parent. This was the reason why Tchack-tchack towards the last would never go near the palace. Thus it happened that the hereditary practice was not resorted to, for poor old Kapchack VI. fell as you know, in the very hour of victory. Tehack-tchack, who has both eyes, and the most glossy tail, and a form of the manliest beauty, is now at this minute chattering all round the copse in a terrible rage, and quite beside himself, because nobody will vote for him to be king, especially since through the breaking of the bough the vaunted treasure is at last revealed and found to consist of a diamond locket and one silver spoon-a hollow business you see so that he has no money, while the beautiful jay has just been united to our friend here and goodness me, here she comes in a flutter!"

CHAPTER XVI.

THE NEW KING.

UP came the lovely young bride, full of news, and told them that the most extraordinary thing had just happened.

"Whatever is it, my love?" said her husband. "Quick, whatever is it?" said the Squirrel.

"I can't wait," said Bevis.

"Nor I," said the Hare.

"Well," said the lovely creature-for whom an empire had been thrown away-" while the rook council was deliberating about the punishment to be awarded to Ah Kurroo, the legions, disgusted with the treatment they had received after so wonderful a victory, have risen in revolt, overthrown the government, driven the council away, taken the Khan from the tree where he was a prisoner, and proclaimed him Dictator!"

Extraordinary!" said the Hare; "the rooks

always would have it that their's was the most perfect form of government ever known."

.

"No such rebellion was ever heard of before," said the Squirrel, "there is nothing like it in history; I know, for I've often slipped into the Owl's muniment room (between you and me) on the sly, and taken a peep at his ancient documents. It is most

extraordinary!"

"I can't see it," said the Jay; "I don't agree with you; I am not in the least surprised. I always said they would never get on with so much caw-cawing and talking every evening; I always said"}

"Gentlemen," shouted the Woodpecker, rushing up breathless with haste, "I am sent round to tell you from the Dictator that you can now proceed to the election of a king without fear of any kind, for he will keep the enemy employed should they appear, and he will over-awe the two pretenders, Ki Ki and Kauc. Let every one say what he thinks without dread, and let there be no bribery and no intimidation. In the name of Ah Kurroo Khan!" and away he flew through the copse to make the proclamation.

Immediately afterwards the Owl, blundering in the daylight, came past and said that they had better

come on to his house, for he had just had a private interview with the Khan, and had orders to preside over this business. So Bevis and the Squirrel, the Hare, and the two Jays proceeded to the pollard tree; there was no need for Bevis to hide now, because he was recognised as a great friend of the Squirrel's, and the enemy of the Weasel. A noisy crowd had already

collected, which was augmented every minute, and there was a good deal of rough pushing and loud talking, not unmingled with blows. They were all there (except the Weasel), the goldfinch, the tomtit, the chaffinch, the thrush, the blackbird, the missel-thrush, all of them, jays, the alien pigeons, doves, woodpeckers, the Rat, the Mouse, the Stoat, and the Fox.

As the crowd increased, so did the uproar, till the Owl appeared at the balcony of his mansion, and the Woodpecker called for silence. The Owl, when he could get a hearing, said they were all to give their opinions and say who they would have for their king. And that there might be less confusion he would call upon the least of them in size, and the youngest in age to speak first, and so on upwards to the oldest and biggest.

"I'm the least," cried the wren, coming forward

without a moment's delay, "and I think that, after all I have seen of the ins and outs of the world, I myself should make a very good king."

"Indeed you're not the smallest," said Te-te, the tomtit; "I am the smallest, besides which you are a smuggler. Now I, on the contrary, have already rendered great services to my country, and I am used to official life."

"Yes, you spy," cried Tchink, the chaffinch; and all the assembly hissed Te-te, till he was obliged to give way, as he could not make himself heard.

"Why not have a queen?" said the goldfinch. "I should think you have had enough of kings; now, why not have me for queen? I have the richest dress of all."

Nothing of the kind," said the yellowhammer, "I wear cloth of gold myself."

"As for that," said the Woodpecker, "I myself have no little claim on the score of colour."

"But you have no such azure as me," said the kingfisher.

"Such gaudy hues are in the worst possible taste," said the blackbird, "and very vulgar. Now, if I were chosen