observedtwolargeants，theonered，theothermuchlarger，nearlyhalfaninchlong，andblack，fiercelycontendingwithoneanother。
　　Havingoncegotholdtheyneverletgo，butstruggledandwrestledandrolledonthechipsincessantly。Lookingfarther，Iwassurprisedtofindthatthechipswerecoveredwithsuchcombatants，thatitwasnotaduellum，butabellum，awarbetweentworacesofants，theredalwayspittedagainsttheblack，andfrequentlytworedonestooneblack。ThelegionsoftheseMyrmidonscoveredallthehillsandvalesinmywood-yard，andthegroundwasalreadystrewnwiththedeadanddying，bothredandblack。ItwastheonlybattlewhichIhaveeverwitnessed，theonlybattle-fieldIevertrodwhilethebattlewasraging；internecinewar；theredrepublicansontheonehand，andtheblackimperialistsontheother。Oneverysidetheywereengagedindeadlycombat，yetwithoutanynoisethatIcouldhear，andhumansoldiersneverfoughtsoresolutely。Iwatchedacouplethatwerefastlockedineachother’sembraces，inalittlesunnyvalleyamidthechips，nowatnoondaypreparedtofighttillthesunwentdown，orlifewentout。
　　Thesmallerredchampionhadfastenedhimselflikeavicetohisadversary’sfront，andthroughallthetumblingsonthatfieldneverforaninstantceasedtognawatoneofhisfeelersneartheroot，havingalreadycausedtheothertogobytheboard；whilethestrongerblackonedashedhimfromsidetoside，and，asIsawonlookingnearer，hadalreadydivestedhimofseveralofhismembers。
　　Theyfoughtwithmorepertinacitythanbulldogs。Neithermanifestedtheleastdispositiontoretreat。Itwasevidentthattheirbattle-crywas“Conquerordie。“Inthemeanwhiletherecamealongasingleredantonthehillsideofthisvalley，evidentlyfullofexcitement，whoeitherhaddespatchedhisfoe，orhadnotyettakenpartinthebattle；probablythelatter，forhehadlostnoneofhislimbs；whosemotherhadchargedhimtoreturnwithhisshieldoruponit。OrperchancehewassomeAchilles，whohadnourishedhiswrathapart，andhadnowcometoavengeorrescuehisPatroclus。Hesawthisunequalcombatfromafar——fortheblackswerenearlytwicethesizeofthered——hedrewnearwithrapidpacetillbestoodonhisguardwithinhalfaninchofthecombatants；then，watchinghisopportunity，hesprangupontheblackwarrior，andcommencedhisoperationsneartherootofhisrightforeleg，leavingthefoetoselectamonghisownmembers；andsotherewerethreeunitedforlife，asifanewkindofattractionhadbeeninventedwhichputallotherlocksandcementstoshame。Ishouldnothavewonderedbythistimetofindthattheyhadtheirrespectivemusicalbandsstationedonsomeeminentchip，andplayingtheirnationalairsthewhile，toexcitetheslowandcheerthedyingcombatants。Iwasmyselfexcitedsomewhatevenasiftheyhadbeenmen。Themoreyouthinkofit，thelessthedifference。AndcertainlythereisnotthefightrecordedinConcordhistory，atleast，ifinthehistoryofAmerica，thatwillbearamoment’scomparisonwiththis，whetherforthenumbersengagedinit，orforthepatriotismandheroismdisplayed。FornumbersandforcarnageitwasanAusterlitzorDresden。ConcordFight！Twokilledonthepatriots’side，andLutherBlanchardwounded！WhyhereeveryantwasaButtrick——“Fire！forGod’ssakefire！“——andthousandssharedthefateofDavisandHosmer。Therewasnotonehirelingthere。Ihavenodoubtthatitwasaprincipletheyfoughtfor，asmuchasourancestors，andnottoavoidathree-pennytaxontheirtea；andtheresultsofthisbattlewillbeasimportantandmemorabletothosewhomitconcernsasthoseofthebattleofBunkerHill，atleast。
　　ItookupthechiponwhichthethreeIhaveparticularlydescribedwerestruggling，carrieditintomyhouse，andplaceditunderatumbleronmywindow-sill，inordertoseetheissue。
　　Holdingamicroscopetothefirst-mentionedredant，Isawthat，thoughhewasassiduouslygnawingatthenearforelegofhisenemy，havingseveredhisremainingfeeler，hisownbreastwasalltornaway，exposingwhatvitalshehadtheretothejawsoftheblackwarrior，whosebreastplatewasapparentlytoothickforhimtopierce；andthedarkcarbunclesofthesufferer’seyesshonewithferocitysuchaswaronlycouldexcite。Theystruggledhalfanhourlongerunderthetumbler，andwhenIlookedagaintheblacksoldierhadseveredtheheadsofhisfoesfromtheirbodies，andthestilllivingheadswerehangingoneithersideofhimlikeghastlytrophiesathissaddle-bow，stillapparentlyasfirmlyfastenedasever，andhewasendeavoringwithfeeblestruggles，beingwithoutfeelersandwithonlytheremnantofaleg，andIknownothowmanyotherwounds，todivesthimselfofthem；whichatlength，afterhalfanhourmore，heaccomplished。Iraisedtheglass，andhewentoffoverthewindow-sillinthatcrippledstate。Whetherhefinallysurvivedthatcombat，andspenttheremainderofhisdaysinsomeHoteldesInvalides，Idonotknow；butIthoughtthathisindustrywouldnotbeworthmuchthereafter。Ineverlearnedwhichpartywasvictorious，northecauseofthewar；butIfeltfortherestofthatdayasifIhadhadmyfeelingsexcitedandharrowedbywitnessingthestruggle，theferocityandcarnage，ofahumanbattlebeforemydoor。
　　KirbyandSpencetellusthatthebattlesofantshavelongbeencelebratedandthedateofthemrecorded，thoughtheysaythatHuberistheonlymodernauthorwhoappearstohavewitnessedthem。
　　“AEneasSylvius，“saythey，“aftergivingaverycircumstantialaccountofonecontestedwithgreatobstinacybyagreatandsmallspeciesonthetrunkofapeartree，“addsthat“thisactionwasfoughtinthepontificateofEugeniustheFourth，inthepresenceofNicholasPistoriensis，aneminentlawyer，whorelatedthewhole，historyofthebattlewiththegreatestfidelity。“AsimilarengagementbetweengreatandsmallantsisrecordedbyOlausMagnus，inwhichthesmallones，beingvictorious，aresaidtohaveburiedthebodiesoftheirownsoldiers，butleftthoseoftheirgiantenemiesapreytothebirds。ThiseventhappenedprevioustotheexpulsionofthetyrantChristierntheSecondfromSweden。“ThebattlewhichIwitnessedtookplaceinthePresidencyofPolk，fiveyearsbeforethepassageofWebster’sFugitive-SlaveBill。
　　ManyavillageBose，fitonlytocourseamud-turtleinavictuallingcellar，sportedhisheavyquartersinthewoods，withouttheknowledgeofhismaster，andineffectuallysmelledatoldfoxburrowsandwoodchucks’holes；ledperchancebysomeslightcurwhichnimblythreadedthewood，andmightstillinspireanaturalterrorinitsdenizens；——nowfarbehindhisguide，barkinglikeacaninebulltowardsomesmallsquirrelwhichhadtreeditselfforscrutiny，then，canteringoff，bendingthebusheswithhisweight，imaginingthatheisonthetrackofsomestraymemberofthejerbillafamily。OnceIwassurprisedtoseeacatwalkingalongthestonyshoreofthepond，fortheyrarelywandersofarfromhome。Thesurprisewasmutual。Neverthelessthemostdomesticcat，whichhaslainonarugallherdays，appearsquiteathomeinthewoods，and，byherslyandstealthybehavior，provesherselfmorenativetherethantheregularinhabitants。Once，whenberrying，I
　　metwithacatwithyoungkittensinthewoods，quitewild，andtheyall，liketheirmother，hadtheirbacksupandwerefiercelyspittingatme。AfewyearsbeforeIlivedinthewoodstherewaswhatwascalleda“wingedcat“inoneofthefarm-housesinLincolnnearestthepond，Mr。GilianBaker’s。WhenIcalledtoseeherinJune，1842，shewasgonea-huntinginthewoods，aswasherwontI
　　amnotsurewhetheritwasamaleorfemale，andsousethemorecommonpronoun，buthermistresstoldmethatshecameintotheneighborhoodalittlemorethanayearbefore，inApril，andwasfinallytakenintotheirhouse；thatshewasofadarkbrownish-graycolor，withawhitespotonherthroat，andwhitefeet，andhadalargebushytaillikeafox；thatinthewinterthefurgrewthickandflattedoutalonghersides，formingstripestenortwelveincheslongbytwoandahalfwide，andunderherchinlikeamuff，theuppersideloose，theundermattedlikefelt，andinthespringtheseappendagesdroppedoff。Theygavemeapairofher“wings，“
　　whichIkeepstill。Thereisnoappearanceofamembraneaboutthem。Somethoughtitwaspartflyingsquirrelorsomeotherwildanimal，whichisnotimpossible，for，accordingtonaturalists，prolifichybridshavebeenproducedbytheunionofthemartenanddomesticcat。Thiswouldhavebeentherightkindofcatformetokeep，ifIhadkeptany；forwhyshouldnotapoet’scatbewingedaswellashishorse？
　　InthefalltheloonColymbusglacialiscame，asusual，tomoultandbatheinthepond，makingthewoodsringwithhiswildlaughterbeforeIhadrisen。AtrumorofhisarrivalalltheMill-damsportsmenareonthealert，ingigsandonfoot，twobytwoandthreebythree，withpatentriflesandconicalballsandspy-glasses。Theycomerustlingthroughthewoodslikeautumnleaves，atleasttenmentooneloon。Somestationthemselvesonthissideofthepond，someonthat，forthepoorbirdcannotbeomnipresent；ifhediveherehemustcomeupthere。ButnowthekindOctoberwindrises，rustlingtheleavesandripplingthesurfaceofthewater，sothatnolooncanbeheardorseen，thoughhisfoessweepthepondwithspy-glasses，andmakethewoodsresoundwiththeirdischarges。Thewavesgenerouslyriseanddashangrily，takingsideswithallwater-fowl，andoursportsmenmustbeataretreattotownandshopandunfinishedjobs。Buttheyweretoooftensuccessful。WhenIwenttogetapailofwaterearlyinthemorningIfrequentlysawthisstatelybirdsailingoutofmycovewithinafewrods。IfIendeavoredtoovertakehiminaboat，inordertoseehowhewouldmanoeuvre，hewoulddiveandbecompletelylost，sothatIdidnotdiscoverhimagain，sometimes，tillthelatterpartoftheday。ButIwasmorethanamatchforhimonthesurface。Hecommonlywentoffinarain。
　　AsIwaspaddlingalongthenorthshoreoneverycalmOctoberafternoon，forsuchdaysespeciallytheysettleontothelakes，likethemilkweeddown，havinglookedinvainoverthepondforaloon，suddenlyone，sailingoutfromtheshoretowardthemiddleafewrodsinfrontofme，setuphiswildlaughandbetrayedhimself。
　　Ipursuedwithapaddleandhedived，butwhenhecameupIwasnearerthanbefore。Hedivedagain，butImiscalculatedthedirectionhewouldtake，andwewerefiftyrodsapartwhenhecametothesurfacethistime，forIhadhelpedtowidentheinterval；
　　andagainhelaughedlongandloud，andwithmorereasonthanbefore。HemanoeuvredsocunninglythatIcouldnotgetwithinhalfadozenrodsofhim。Eachtime，whenhecametothesurface，turninghisheadthiswayandthat，hecoolysurveyedthewaterandtheland，andapparentlychosehiscoursesothathemightcomeupwheretherewasthewidestexpanseofwaterandatthegreatestdistancefromtheboat。Itwassurprisinghowquicklyhemadeuphismindandputhisresolveintoexecution。Heledmeatoncetothewidestpartofthepond，andcouldnotbedrivenfromit。Whilehewasthinkingonethinginhisbrain，Iwasendeavoringtodivinehisthoughtinmine。Itwasaprettygame，playedonthesmoothsurfaceofthepond，amanagainstaloon。Suddenlyyouradversary’scheckerdisappearsbeneaththeboard，andtheproblemistoplaceyoursnearesttowherehiswillappearagain。Sometimeshewouldcomeupunexpectedlyontheoppositesideofme，havingapparentlypasseddirectlyundertheboat。Solong-windedwasheandsounweariable，thatwhenhehadswumfarthesthewouldimmediatelyplungeagain，nevertheless；andthennowitcoulddivinewhereinthedeeppond，beneaththesmoothsurface，hemightbespeedinghiswaylikeafish，forhehadtimeandabilitytovisitthebottomofthepondinitsdeepestpart。ItissaidthatloonshavebeencaughtintheNewYorklakeseightyfeetbeneaththesurface，withhookssetfortrout——thoughWaldenisdeeperthanthat。Howsurprisedmustthefishesbetoseethisungainlyvisitorfromanotherspherespeedinghiswayamidtheirschools！Yetheappearedtoknowhiscourseassurelyunderwaterasonthesurface，andswammuchfasterthere。OnceortwiceIsawaripplewhereheapproachedthesurface，justputhisheadouttoreconnoitre，andinstantlydivedagain。Ifoundthatitwasaswellformetorestonmyoarsandwaithisreappearingastoendeavortocalculatewherehewouldrise；foragainandagain，whenIwasstrainingmyeyesoverthesurfaceoneway，Iwouldsuddenlybestartledbyhisunearthlylaughbehindme。Butwhy，afterdisplayingsomuchcunning，didheinvariablybetrayhimselfthemomenthecameupbythatloudlaugh？Didnothiswhitebreastenoughbetrayhim？Hewasindeedasillyloon，Ithought。Icouldcommonlyhearthesplashofthewaterwhenhecameup，andsoalsodetectedhim。Butafteranhourheseemedasfreshasever，divedaswillingly，andswamyetfartherthanatfirst。Itwassurprisingtoseehowserenelyhesailedoffwithunruffledbreastwhenhecametothesurface，doingalltheworkwithhiswebbedfeetbeneath。Hisusualnotewasthisdemoniaclaughter，yetsomewhatlikethatofawater-fowl；butoccasionally，whenhehadbalkedmemostsuccessfullyandcomeupalongwayoff，heutteredalong-drawnunearthlyhowl，probablymorelikethatofawolfthananybird；aswhenabeastputshismuzzletothegroundanddeliberatelyhowls。
　　Thiswashislooning——perhapsthewildestsoundthatiseverheardhere，makingthewoodsringfarandwide。Iconcludedthathelaughedinderisionofmyefforts，confidentofhisownresources。
　　Thoughtheskywasbythistimeovercast，thepondwassosmooththatIcouldseewherehebrokethesurfacewhenIdidnothearhim。