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"What did you mean," Asked the second king, "by saying, 'sending a blue pig with a black tail, or else --'?"

Both kings were so angry that they went to war with each other. They collected all their soldiers and fought with each other. Brave men were killed, and women and children died because they could get nothing to eat.

The other replied, "I haven't one; if I had --"

Once upon a time a certain king sent a message to another king, saying, "Send me a blue pig with a black tail, or else --"

When it seemed that neither side could win the war, the kings began to talk about peace. First of all, it was necessary to explain the two messages. Each king was angry at what the other had said.

"Why," said the first king, "I could mean only one thing. I meant that I wanted you to send me a blue pig with a black tail, or else a pig of some other color."

"Oh, that was all, was it? I did not get the whole of your message," answered the second king. "What a pity! " He added.

"Ah, but I must know what you meant by your reply to my message," asked the first king. "You said, 'I haven't one; if I had --"'

So the great war of the blue pig with the black tail was recorded in the histories of the two countries in order to prevent such a war happening again.

"Why, my answer is very clear. I meant that I hadn't one; if I had, I should have sent it to you."

"Well, well!" said the first king, "We have been fighting about nothing. If we had only explained these things before the war started, then this bitter war must have been avoided."