_Nōfūhl._ The Mehrikans had eighty heavy ships of iron, with a number of smaller craft. The allies had two hundred and forty heavy battleships, all of iron. They also had smaller craft for divers purposes. _Khan-li._ Allah! A bad prospect for our greedy friends! And being a nation of traders they had no liking, probably, for the perils of war. _Nōfūhl._ As to that historians differ. According to the Mehrikans themselves they were mighty warriors. But certain writers of that period give a different impression. Nōz-yt-ahl is sure they were cowards, weak in body as in spirit, but often favored by fortune. In my opinion, this battle throws considerable light upon that matter. A day like this, it was, also in June, as the Europeans, coming northward along the coast to seize Nhū-Yok, met the Mehrikan Admiral Nev-r-sai-di with his eighty ships. And the struggle was short. _Khan-li._ Verily, I can believe it! With three ships to one I would give the Europeans about half a day--a summer afternoon like this--to send the greedy ones to the bottom. _Nōfūhl._ Thy guess is good, O Prince, as to the hours of fighting. It lasted just one summer afternoon. But the Mehrikans it was who sent their enemies to the bottom. And the sea beneath our feet is strewn with iron hulks. _Khan-li._ Bismillah! If that be a true tale--and I doubt it not--these greedy ones were not so contemptible, at least when there was profit in it. _Lev-el-Hedyd._ At what period did this occur? _Nōfūhl._ Early in the twentieth century. I cannot recall the date, but it was never forgotten by the Mehrikans. Surely a just pride, for on that day they accomplished wonders. The Admiral Nev-r-sai-di on his ship the _Ztazenztrypes_ was at one time surrounded by a dozen German men-of-war. And lo! he demolished all! And of Frank and Russyan vessels he put an end to as many more; also sundry Talyans and British. _Lev-el-Hedyd._ Bismillah! But that was good! What, O Nōfūhl, is the Persian of that name _Ztazenztrypes_? _Nōfūhl._ None can tell with certainty. To the Mehrikans it signified victory, or something similar. Other miracles were achieved by the Mehrikans that day. _Nōfli-zon-mee_, a little craft with a pointed prow, jammed holes in nearly a score of monster ships, and the waters closed over them. There figured also a long and narrow boat of Mehrikan devising, the _Yankyd-Oodl_. This astonishing machine sailed to and fro among the foreign ships upsetting all traditions. Much glory befell her commander, the Captain Hoorai-boiz. _Grip-til-lah._ And how many ships did the Mehrikans lose? _Nōfūhl._ Reports are contradictory. According to one of their own writers of the period they suffered no loss whatever in vessels. Yet at the same time he asserts, "We gave them Haleklumbya," which must be the name of a ship. _Khan-li._ A gallant fight! But can you explain how such an inferior people could become heroic of a sudden?