The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-20

blasts of the trumpets of war. Great fleets were made ready, every woman of fighting age began the exercise of arms, and the griffins were brought forth and made ready for the impending strug- gle. California abounded in all sorts of beasts besides griffins, and upon the fisycest of these beasts the woman war went forth to battle Queen Califia or dered that the griffins and the riding beasts should be placed upon some of the largest of her ships, and that a sufficient corps of well-trained fighting women should be left behind to secure the island from attack during the absence upon foreign service of the main army. What route the fleet of Queen Califla took to Constantinople is not known, but many were open to her armada, and in due time she arrived in the neighborhood of Constantinople. The Pagan army lay before the city and to the chief of the Pagans Califia addressed herself. Much was he surprised to see the great fleet and this army of women warriors arriv- ing at his camp. He felt that he was confronted by a new power sprung from the far-off waters of an unknown sea. Queen Califia asked the chief of the Pagans many questions about his at tempts and his failures before the walls of Byzantium. She inquired minutely into the present conditions of his army and his future plans. All the great Paynim lords came to see her and hear her words Finally the dusky queen said: You have been trying for long time to take this great city. Now permit me to try the game of war
 "Oh, great queen, the task is yours" |" said the assembled chiefs.
 Tt is well,h replied Califia, "see that none of your officers or men leave their camps tomorrow until I give them per- mission. Then you shall see on the nor row such a combat as you or yours never have seen before-no-nor have ever heard of
 Word was sent to the two great fight CTS of the Paynim forces. the Sultan of Liquir and the Sultan of Halapa, that neither they nor any of their men should stir from their tents on the morrow. It was with some misgivings that these two great fighting sultans heard the or der. They wondered much what the idea of this great Queen of California should be. Califia returned to her flagship and forces at the first flush of daylight. When at last the sun rose over the wa ters and the purple sea began to redden and blush beneath the kiss of the sun god Queen Califia and her army landed upon those remote shores. The Queen and her Amazons were clad in armor of gold, and in that armor were set many precious stones, so that as they ap- preached the shores they shone beautiful and resplendent in the morning light. The fiery beasts which they were to ride were brought from the ships. all mag were brought forth and landed-those cruel destroyers of men.
 The griffins were brought ashore in cages and when they were liberated flew forth hungry and panting for the flesh oi 
 man. They came pouring forth in flood for they had eaten nothing since they began their long voyage from California They flew to the ranks of the defending Christians and caught up the warriors in their claws. The Paynims, though not allowed to leave their camps, watched afar off the work of these destroying beasts. It was a pleasant sight for then to see the writhing of their enemies ir the talons of the noxious beasts. Int sutans of the Turks shouted with joy All the lances which the Christians hurled could not penetrate the scales of tht griffins. The monsters dived over tn, walls of the city and brought up victims from among the ranks of the besieged d every dive. Seated on the backs of theil fierce war beasts Queen Califia and hel Amazons watched the fight and shool their spears in air. The defenders of thu city made a sortie, but fled back in terro before the attack of the ravaging griffins satiated with human flesh. the griffin begaA to grab up men and drop then frony great height to kill them tha lwa At last, upon the ranpasts of Con
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