106 The Catskill Fairies.

“«They disbanded in the woods,’ said Peter.

“<«T saw nothing but a pile of carrots, retorted General Rub-
a-dub. ‘I believe your soldiers were nothing but carrot men.
after all.’

“*Nonsense!’ cried the Emperor, growing purple in the face
with wrath at the idea of his empire being defended by an
army of carrots. ‘If I believed half that you say, Rub-a-dub, I
would command that every carrot in my dominions should be
pulled up by the roots, and no more be planted for one while.’

“«T will execute the wise order, if it please your majesty,’ Gen-
eral Rub-a-dub hastened to reply. ‘Without his carrots, you
will find that your new commander-in-chief is not much of an
officer.’

“ Peter was at his wits’ end; but a wasp flew past, and buzzed
in his ear:

“<«We will use beets.’

“ The neighboring Prince gathered new forces, and marched
into the Emperor’s territory, blowing trumpets under his maj-
esty’s nose. General Rub-a-dub drilled his men, and watched
Peter quite fiercely, twirling his mustache. At the very last mo-
ment, when the enemy was preparing to besiege the Imperial
city, Peter stole softly out to the Fairies, and they employed
countless numbers of owls and bats to pull up all the beets in
the kingdom, and bring the vegetables to the edge of the wood.

“ When the next morning’s sun rose, Peter turned all the beets
into soldiers, and marched to join the Emperor’s army. The
beet soldiers were infinitely more splendid in appearance than
the carrots had been; they were glowing crimson not only in

uniform, but their faces were of the same hue, and their caps