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.
As on the Monkey troopers swept,
The Bunnies to their holes all crept;
The foe who set triumphant out
Was first a rabble, then a rout!
The Owl, in "Zooland," said, next day:
"Our troops like chaff swept them away;
Their praises let us loudly sing,
Who won the day for Leo, King!"
[Illustration: THE CHARGE OF THE GIRAFFE CAVALRY]
The leader, Tiger, soon was caught,
And into Camp a prisoner brought;
A warning to this very day,
To all who at Rebellion play.
The Court-Martial.
Field Marshal Leo then and there
A stern Court-Martial held;
The prisoner, with defiant air,
Explained why he rebelled.
"Such conduct," said the President,
"Admits of no defence;
But since you ask it, I'll consent
To hear the evidence."
'Twas heard--in "Zooland" of that week
You'll find the Owl's report;
The President then rose to speak,
The sentence of the Court.
"On all counts guilty he appears--
The prisoner's sentenced to
A lenient term--a hundred years
Confinement in the Zoo!"
[Illustration: THE COURT-MARTIAL]
The Rebels Surrender.
The other Rebels, when they heard
Of what to Tiger had occurred,
Surrendered everyone next day,
And threw down arms without delay.
The Bear said, "I don't want to keep
My blunderbuss--'twas much too cheap!"
The Leopard and the Crocodile
Threw theirs upon the growing pile.
Of loyalty each took the oath,
While Jumbo and Lord Rhino, both
Promoted Colonels by the King,
Kept watch that each his gun did bring.
And Colonel Jumbo winked his eye
To Colonel Rhino, standing by:
"We'd be Field Marshals soon, no fear,
If we'd Rebellions ev'ry year!"
[Illustration: THE REBELS SURRENDER]
This done, the prisoners were sent
Off to perpetual banishment;
Forbidden thenceforth, under pain
Of death, to e'er come back again!
Oh, sad indeed that Rebel band,
That bade farewell to dear Zooland.
One of the King's Heroes.
T'was soon remarked by not a few
That Hippo was not seen;
The rumour ran--alas! too true--
That he had wounded been.
Then messengers went out and found
The hero of the strife;
His wounds with bandages were bound
By his most loving wife.
The King himself, when he was told,
In person--came to see;
"When well," said he, "oh, hero bold,
Sir Hippo you shall be!"
With Surgeon's skill and wifely care
He soon recovered quite;
Now there's no soldier anywhere
Like Sir John Hippo, Knight.
[Illustration: ONE OF THE KING'S HEROES]
The King's Return.
With clash of brass and drums that banged,
With flags that flew and bells that clanged,
They celebrated, as you see,
The King's return from victory.
Rejoicings reigned on every hand,
The noise was great, the music grand;
They bought up all the butchers' shops,
Gave everyone free steaks and chops.
Buns, nuts and cakes were given away,
The children had a holiday;
His people came from far and nigh
To see King Leo riding by.
The cavalry were there, of course,
And everyone next day was hoarse;
For 'twas not often they could see
A King return from victory.
[Illustration: RETURN OF THE KING TO HIS CAPITAL]
Next day the King an order gave
That he would distribute
His medals to his soldiers brave,
Both cavalry and foot.
The medals were the very best--
Some putty and some tin;
The King unto each hero's breast
Affixed them with a pin.
Home Again.
Now ended is the strife and fray,
Dispersed the Rebel train;
There's joy in Jumbo Hall to-day,
For Daddy's home again.
Watch Mamma Jumbo's beaming face
To see him safe and sound,
Of battle showing not a trace,
Although with glory crowned.
'Tis good once more to see him curl
His big trunk with delight,
And toss in air his baby girl
Before she says good-night.
While Tommy vows, when he is tall,
He'll fight with might and main;
Oh, all is joy at Jumbo Hall
Now Daddy's home again.
[Illustration: HOME AGAIN]
[Illustration: LONG LIVE KING LEO]
* * * * *
_By the same Author and Artist._