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The Birds were at war with the Beasts, and many battles were

fought with varying success on either side. The Bat did not throw

in his lot definitely with either party, but when things went

well for the Birds he was found fighting in their ranks; when, on

the other hand, the Beasts got the upper hand, he was to be found

among the Beasts. No one paid any attention to him while the war

lasted: but when it was over, and peace was restored, neither the

Birds nor the Beasts would have anything to do with so

double-faced a traitor, and so he remains to this day a solitary

outcast from both.

THE MAN AND HIS TWO SWEETHEARTS