human
There is wild commotion and great excitement down yonder by the great palace. The news has reached them! They are preparing to come in force to take us!
gpt
I wish I knew what their sign of peace is, we might save a conflict, said I.
human
Perhaps our fire-arms won't harm them.
gpt
More likely they will blow them all to pieces, answered the doctor.
human
But we must not fire unless it becomes absolutely necessary to defend ourselves, for if we kill any of them, they will then have cause to deal with us as dreadfully as they can. We cannot hope to overcome them all. It will be enough to demonstrate our supremacy, so that they will allow us to live among them. Therefore, let us simply defend ourselves and do nothing offensive, thus showing that we are peaceably disposed.
gpt
You cry peace, but look at the great army they are sending against us! I exclaimed.
human
There are four companies of foot soldiers marching through the streets, and each man is armed with a very long cross-bow and wears a brightly-coloured bird-wing on his forehead. The streets are filling with people to see them pass. Now three more companies wheel out of the palace, but they have no cross-bows. They are whirling something around their heads.
gpt
Those are slings they are whirling about their heads, he said.
human
And the commander of each company rides an ambling donkey, and wears a heavy plaited beard and long braided hair, without head covering.
gpt
But look further back, coming out of the palace now! I cried.
human
What are those strange, stately animals far behind the soldiers? I can see them with the naked eye.
gpt
he muttered under his breath.
human
Like ostriches in form, but as tall and graceful as a giraffe! There is a man riding astride the neck of each of them, yet he could scarcely reach half-way to their heads!
gpt
Are those monstrous things birds? I demanded.
human
Let me look. What long and bony legs they have! They would stride over us without touching our heads; but how they could kick!
gpt
And how they could run! put in the doctor.
human
See, they stride easily over seven or eight feet with a single step. They must be messenger birds, for there are only four of them, and their riders are not armed.
gpt
They may have hundreds more of them in reserve, and they could fight far more viciously than the men. See what a wicked beak and what a long muscular neck they have. They could crush a skull in a twinkling with one swift swoop of that head! I will fight the men, but I will take no chances with those birds!