“Very well, then,” answered the Blackbird. “War is declared and you must take the consequences.” Rub-a-dub, rub-a-dub! went the drum.

“Seize that insolent bird,” said the King, “and shut him up in the hen-house. There will be nothing left of him in the morning.”

So the servants took the Blackbird and threw him out into the hen-house.

When all the world was sound asleep, Blackbird said:

“Come out, Pussy, from my ear!

There are many fowls for you here;

Scratch them—make their feathers fly,

Wring their necks until they die!”

“Miaow! Miaow,” said the big Pussy Cat. And in an instant all was wild confusion in the hen-house.

“Cluck-cluck-cluck!” said the Hens, as they went scurrying all over the place. “Bad luck-cluck-cluck!”