f the bockhockids
was apparent. In case a mounted wayleal got unhorsed he was able to
join the wayleals, or infantry, having the same equipment as they.

Our superiority in arms when compared with the royal army, which
possessed only magnic spears and shields, was apparent.

Of course, the enemy also made the legs and claws of the bockhockids
magnic spears in themselves.

It seemed remarkable that a people so inventive, and who possessed the
best of all means for manufacturing firearms, should not have thought
of a better device than their naval air guns. It was but a further
illustration of the fact that the keenest minds are constantly
color-blind to the simplest combinations visible to lookers-on while
they are pursuing their elaborate researches.

But the royal army, if inferior in arms, possessed the superiority of
numbers. It outnumbered us three to one.

Our total forces consisted of 175,000 wayleals and 42,000 bockhockids,
making a total of 217,000 troops, which included 5,000 amazons.

We at first expected a much larger army, believing the priests of
invention, under Grasnagallipas, would certainly espouse the cause of
the queen, but it was a terrible blow to our enthusiasm when we
learned that the priests of invention, making a total of 50,000
wayleals, had joined the royal army and would fight against their late
goddess.

Calnogor being the headquarters of the royal army, it would have been
particularly dangerous for the priests of invention to have espoused
our cause, surrounded as they were by the enormously more powerful
enemy. To our loss, they had chosen to continue part of the army of
the king, which at the lowest computation numbered half a million men.

The king seemed strangely reluctant to begin the attack, although he
knew the extent of our forces in Kioram. It was evident the protection
given the city by the fleet allowed us to complete the arming and
drilling of our forces without molestation.

Supreme General Hushnoly reported that, thanks to the indefatigable
energy of General Rackiron and his colleagues, Generals Starbottle,
Goldrock and Flathootly, assisted by Generals Charka, Yermoul, Pra and
Nototherboc, he had been able to fully equip the wayleals with
mitrailleuses, wings, electric spears and uniforms. The bockhockids,
in addition, were mounted on mechanical birds that could either fly,
trot or walk with tremendous speed.

I instructed Hushnoly to make his appointment of offic