Preparing for the Fray.

Preparing for the coming fray,
The Camp was busy night and day;
The Rhino had his horn re-ground,
Because it had got blunt he found.

The Elephant had his tusks, too,
Re-sharpened till they looked like new;
In fact, the Ape's new grindstone strong
Was working nearly all day long.

All day the Camp was never still--
With marching to and fro, and drill;
And quite right too, since it appears
They hadn't been to war for years.

The oldest there had never known
Such preparations to be shown;
Indeed, they'd never had, somehow,
A great Rebellion until now.

[Illustration: PREPARING FOR THE FRAY]

Next day took place the Grand Review,
Before His Majesty,
The troops marched past in order true--