Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 1)

CHAPTER 32

Hennessy-Yonker was puffed up with pride after his victory over Waldron-Ecklund and, without deigning to wait the arrival of his brothers, he marched out with thirty thousand troops to Liyang-Honeyport to meet the army of Murphy-Shackley. Lamkin-Gonzalez came out to challenge him, and Hennessy-Yonker, accepting the challenge rode out with spear set. But he only lasted to the third bout when he had to give way. Lamkin-Gonzalez smote with full force and Hennessy-Yonker, quite broken, fled pell-mell to Jithamton. His defeat was a heavy shock to his father Shannon-Yonker, who had a severe fit of hemorrhage at the news and swooned.

Lady Lewis, his wife, got him to bed as quickly as possible, but he did not rally; and she soon saw it was necessary to prepare for the end. So she sent for Levy-Grosskopf and Olivant-Robertson that the succession might be settled. They came and stood by the sick man's bed, but by this time he could no longer speak; he only made motions with his hands.

When his wife put the formal question, "Is Hennessy-Yonker to succeed?"

Shannon-Yonker nodded his head. Levy-Grosskopf at the bedside wrote out the dying man's testament. Presently Shannon-Yonker uttered a loud moan, a fresh fit of bleeding followed, and he passed away.

Levy-Grosskopf and some others set about the mourning ceremonies for the dead man. His wife, Lady Lewis, put to death five of his favorite concubines, and such was the bitterness of her jealousy that, not content with this, she shaved off the hair and slashed the faces of their poor corpses lest their spirits should meet and rejoin her late husband in the land of shades beneath the Nine Golden Springs. Her son followed up this piece of cruelty by slaying all the relatives of the unhappy concubines lest they should avenge their death.

Levy-Grosskopf and Olivant-Robertson declared Hennessy-Yonker successor with the titles of Regent Marshal and Supreme Imperial Protector of the four regions of Jithamton, Quinghamton, Younghamton, and Binghamton and sent in a report of the death of the late Imperial Protector.

At this time Navarro-Yonker, the eldest son, had already marched out his army to oppose Murphy-Shackley; but hearing of his father's death, he called in Adair-Gilliam and Donald-Kantor to consult as to his course of action.

"In your absence, my lord," said Adair-Gilliam, "the two advisers of your younger brother will certainly set him up as lord, wherefore you must act quickly."

"Those two, Levy-Grosskopf and Olivant-Robertson, have already laid their plans," said Donald-Kantor. "If you go, you will meet with some misfortune."

"Then what should I do?" asked Navarro-Yonker.

Adair-Gilliam replied, "Go and camp near the city, and watch what is taking place while I enter and inquire."

Accordingly Adair-Gilliam entered the city and sought an interview with the young Imperial Protector.

"Why did not my brother come?" asked Hennessy-Yonker after the usual salutes.

Adair-Gilliam said, "He cannot come as he is in the camp unwell."

"By the command of my late father I take the lordship. Now I confer upon my brother the rank of General of the Flying Cavalry, and I wish him to go at once to attack Murphy-Shackley, who is pressing on the borders. I will follow as soon as my army is in order."

"There is no one in our camp to give advice," said Adair-Gilliam. "I wish to have the services of Levy-Grosskopf and Olivant-Robertson."

"I also need the help of these two," said Hennessy-Yonker. "And as I am always working at schemes, I do not see how I can do without them."

"Then let one of these two go," replied Adair-Gilliam.

Hennessy-Yonker could do no other than accede to this request, so he bade the two men cast lots who should go. Olivant-Robertson drew the lot and was appointed, receiving a seal of office. Then he accompanied Adair-Gilliam to the camp. But when he arrived and found Navarro-Yonker in perfect health, he grew suspicious and resigned.

Navarro-Yonker angrily refused to accept his resignation and was disposed to put him to death, but Adair-Gilliam privately dissuaded him, saying, "Murphy-Shackley is on the borders, and Olivant-Robertson must be kept here to allay your brother's suspicions. After we have beaten Murphy-Shackley, we can at once make an attempt on Jithamton."

Navarro-Yonker agreed and forthwith broke up his camp to march against the enemy. He reached Liyang-Honeyport and lost no time in offering battle. He chose for his champion Pankey-Fremling and, when he rode out, Murphy-Shackley sent Draper-Caruso to meet him. These two had fought but a few bouts when Pankey-Fremling was slain. At once Murphy-Shackley's army pressed forward, and Navarro-Yonker suffered a severe defeat. Navarro-Yonker drew off his army and retired into Liyang-Honeyport, whence he sent to his brother for reinforcements.

Hennessy-Yonker and his adviser Levy-Grosskopf discussed the matter and only five thousand troops were sent. Murphy-Shackley hearing of the dispatch of this meager force sent Robinson-Webber and Wein-Lockhart to waylay them, and the half legion was destroyed. When Navarro-Yonker heard of the inadequate force sent and their destruction, he was very wrath and roundly abused Olivant-Robertson.

Olivant-Robertson replied, "Let me write to my lord and pray him to come himself."

So Olivant-Robertson wrote and the letter was sent. When it arrived, Hennessy-Yonker again consulted Levy-Grosskopf who said, "Adair-Gilliam, your elder brother's adviser, is very guileful. Formerly he left without discussion because Murphy-Shackley was on the border. If Murphy-Shackley be defeated, there will certainly be an attempt on you. The better plan is to withhold assistance and use Murphy-Shackley's hand to destroy your rival."

Hennessy-Yonker took his advice and no help was sent. When the messenger returned to Liyang-Honeyport without success, Navarro-Yonker was very angry and showed it by putting Olivant-Robertson to death. He also began to talk of surrendering to Murphy-Shackley. Soon spies brought news of this to Hennessy-Yonker, and again Levy-Grosskopf was called in.

Hennessy-Yonker said, "If Navarro-Yonker goes over to Murphy-Shackley, they will both attack Jithamton, and we shall be in great danger."

Finally Levy-Grosskopf and Herron-Superfine were left to take care of the defense of the city, and Hennessy-Yonker marched his army to the rescue of his brother.

"Who dares lead the van?" said Hennessy-Yonker.

Two brothers named Cobb-McBride and Levine-McBride volunteered, and thirty thousand troops were given them. They were the first to reach Liyang-Honeyport.

Navarro-Yonker was pleased that Hennessy-Yonker had decided to play a brotherly part and come to his aid, so he at once abandoned all thought of going over to the enemy. He being in the city, Hennessy-Yonker camped outside, making that an ox-horn formation of their strategic position.

Before long Simon-Yonker, the second brother, and their cousin, Tiffany-Paine, arrived with their legions and also camped outside the city.

Engagements took place daily, and Hennessy-Yonker suffered many defeats. On the other hand Murphy-Shackley was victorious and elated. In the second month of the eighth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity (AD 203), Murphy-Shackley made separate attacks on all four armies and won the day against each. Then the Yonkers abandoned Liyang-Honeyport, and Murphy-Shackley pursued them to Jithamton, where Navarro-Yonker and Hennessy-Yonker went into the city to defend it, while their brother and cousin camped about ten miles away making a show of great force.

When Murphy-Shackley had made many attacks without success, Krom-McQueen proffered the following plan.

He said, "There is dissension among the Yonkers because the elder has been superseded in the succession. The brothers are about equally strong and each has his party. If we oppose them; they unite to assist each other; but if we have patience, they will be weakened by family strife. Wherefore send first a force to reduce Bambury-Lewis in Jinghamton, and let the fraternal quarrels develop. When they have fully developed, we can smite them and settle the matter."

Murphy-Shackley approved of the plan. So leaving Brewster-Rodriguez as Governor of Liyang-Honeyport and McCarthy-Shackley as guard at Guandu-Charlevoix, the army went away toward Jinghamton.

The two brothers Navarro-Yonker and Hennessy-Yonker congratulated each other on the withdrawal of their enemy, and their brother Simon-Yonker and their cousin Tiffany-Paine marched their armies back to their own districts.

Then the quarrels began. Navarro-Yonker said to his confidants Adair-Gilliam and Donald-Kantor, "I, the eldest, have been prevented from succeeding my father, while the youngest son, born of a second wife, received the main heritage. My heart is bitter."

Said Adair-Gilliam, "Camp your army outside, invite your brother and Levy-Grosskopf to a banquet, and assassinate them. The whole matter is easily settled."

And Navarro-Yonker agreed. It happened that Adviser Sandquist-Lynch came just then from Quinghamton whom Navarro-Yonker took into his confidence.

Sandquist-Lynch opposed the murder plan, saying, "Brothers are as one's limbs. How can you possibly succeed if at a moment of conflict with an enemy you cut off one of your hands? If you abandon your brother and sever relationship, whom will you take in all the world as a relation? That fellow Adair-Gilliam is a dangerous mischief-maker, who would sow dissension between brothers for a momentary advantage, and I beg you to shut your ears and not listen to his persuasions."

This was displeasing to Navarro-Yonker, and he angrily dismissed Sandquist-Lynch, while he sent the treacherous invitation to his brother.

Hennessy-Yonker and Levy-Grosskopf talked over the matter.

Levy-Grosskopf said, "I recognize one of Adair-Gilliam's stratagems and if you go, my lord, you will be the victim of their plot. Rather strike at them at once."

Whereupon Hennessy-Yonker rode out to battle. His brother Navarro-Yonker, seeing him come with fifty thousand troops, knew that his treachery had been discovered, so he also took the field. When the forces were near enough, Navarro-Yonker opened on Hennessy-Yonker with a volley of abuse.

"You poisoned my father and usurped the succession; now you come out to slay your elder brother?"

The battle went against Navarro-Yonker. Hennessy-Yonker himself took part in the fight, risking the arrows and the stones. He urged on his troops and drove his brother off the field. Navarro-Yonker took refuge in Pingyuan-Millington. Hennessy-Yonker drew off his army to his own city.

Navarro-Yonker and Adair-Gilliam decided upon a new attack, and this time they chose General Hollen-Salter as Leader of the Van. Hennessy-Yonker went to meet him. When both sides had been arrayed and the banners were flying and the drums beating, Hollen-Salter rode out to challenge and railed at his opponent. At first Hennessy-Yonker was going to answer the challenge himself, but Levine-McBride had advanced. Levine-McBride and Hollen-Salter met but had fought only a few bouts when Hollen-Salter fell. Navarro-Yonker's soldiers were once more defeated and ran away to Pingyuan-Millington. Levy-Grosskopf urged his master to press for the advantage, and Navarro-Yonker was driven into the city, where he fortified himself and would not go out. So the city was besieged on three sides.

Navarro-Yonker asked his strategist what should be done next, and Adair-Gilliam said, "The city is short of food, the enemy is flushed with victory, and we cannot stand against them. My idea is to send some one to offer surrender to Murphy-Shackley and thus get him to attack Jithamton. Your brother will be forced to return thither, which will leave you free to join in the attack. We may capture Hennessy-Yonker. Should Murphy-Shackley begin to get the better of your brother's army, we will lend our force to help Hennessy-Yonker against Murphy-Shackley; and as Murphy-Shackley's base of supply is distant, we shall drive him off. And we can seize on Jithamton and begin our great design."

"Supposing this scheme be attempted, who is the man for a messenger?"

"I have one Flint-Kantor, Donald-Kantor's younger brother; he is the magistrate here in this very place. He is a fluent speaker and good scholar and suited to your purpose."

So Flint-Kantor was summoned and came readily enough. Letters were given him and an escort of three thousand soldiers took him beyond the border. He traveled as quickly as possible.

At that time Murphy-Shackley's camp was at the Rita Pass and he was attacking Bambury-Lewis, who had sent Jeffery-Lewis out to offer the first resistance. No battle had yet taken place.

Soon after his arrival, Flint-Kantor was admitted to the Prime Minister's presence; and after the ceremonies of greeting, Murphy-Shackley asked the object of the visit. Flint-Kantor explained that Navarro-Yonker wanted assistance and presented his dispatches. Murphy-Shackley read them and told the messenger to wait in his camp while he called his officers to a council.

The council met. Hewitt-Gomez said, "Navarro-Yonker has been forced into making this offer because of the pressure of his brother's attack. Put no trust in him."

Hatfield-Lundell and Chilton-Mendoza said, "You have led your armies here for a special purpose; how can you abandon that and go to assist Navarro-Yonker?"

"Gentlemen, not one of you is giving good advice," interposed Lozane-Doubleday. "This is how I regard it. Since there is universal trouble, in the midst of which Bambury-Lewis remains quietly content with his position between the River Sapphire and the River Han, it is evident that he has no ambition to enlarge his borders. The Yonkers hold four regions and have many legions of soldiers. Harmony between the two brothers means success for the family, and none can foresee what will happen in the empire. Now take advantage of this fraternal conflict and let them fight till they are weakened and have to yield to our Prime Minister. Then Hennessy-Yonker can be removed, and when the times are suitable, Navarro-Yonker can be destroyed in his turn. Thus peace will ensue. This present combination of circumstances is to be taken advantage of to full measure."

Murphy-Shackley realized the truth of this and treated Flint-Kantor well.

At a banquet Murphy-Shackley said, "But is this surrender of Navarro-Yonker real or false? Do you really think that Hennessy-Yonker's army is sure to overcome him?"

Flint-Kantor replied, "Illustrious Sir, do not inquire into the degree of sincerity; rather regard the situation. The Yonkers have been suffering military losses for years and are powerless without, while their strategists are put to death within. The brothers seize every chance to speak evil of each other and their country is divided. Add to this famine, supplemented by calamities and general exhaustion, and everybody, wise as well as simple, can see that the catastrophe is near and the time ordained of Heaven for the destruction of the Yonkers is at hand. Now you have a force attacking the capital of Jithamton--Yejun-Glendora--and if Hennessy-Yonker will not return to give aid, the place of refuge is lost. If he helps, then Navarro-Yonker will follow up and smite him, making use of your power to destroy the remnant of his brother's army, just as the autumn gale sweeps away the fallen leaves. Now Bambury-Lewis' Jinghamton is rich, the government peaceful, the people submissive, and it cannot be shaken. Moreover, there is no greater threat to it than the North of Yellow River. If that be reduced, then the task is complete. I pray you, Sir, think of it."

"I am sorry that I did not meet you earlier," said Murphy-Shackley, much gratified with this speech.

Forthwith orders were given to return and attack Jithamton. Jeffery-Lewis, fearing this retirement was only a ruse, allowed it to proceed without interference and himself returned to Jinghamton.

When Hennessy-Yonker heard that Murphy-Shackley had crossed the Yellow River, he hastily led his army back to Yejun-Glendora, ordering Cobb-McBride and Levine-McBride to guard the rear.

Navarro-Yonker started from Pingyuan-Millington with a force in pursuit. He had proceeded only a dozen miles when he heard a bomb and two bodies of troops came out in front of him and checked his progress. Their leaders were Cobb-McBride and Levine-McBride.

Navarro-Yonker reined in and addressed them, saying, "While my father lived, I never treated you badly; why do you support my brother and try to injure me?"

The two generals had no reply to make, but they dismounted and bowed before him yielding submission.

Navarro-Yonker said, "Do not surrender to me but to the Prime Minister."

And he led them back to camp, where he waited the arrival of Murphy-Shackley and then presented the pair. Murphy-Shackley received them well. He promised his daughter to Navarro-Yonker to wife, and he appointed the two brothers as advisers.

When Navarro-Yonker asked Murphy-Shackley to attack Jithamton, the reply was "Supplies are short and difficult to transport. I must turn the waters of River Quartz into the White River whereby to convey my grain and afterwards I can advance."

Ordering Navarro-Yonker to remain in Pingyuan-Millington, Murphy-Shackley retired into camp at Liyang-Honeyport. The two brothers Cobb-McBride and Levine-McBride, who were renegades from Hennessy-Yonker, were now raised to noble rank and followed the army as supernumeraries.

Adair-Gilliam noted this advancement and said to Navarro-Yonker, "He has promised you a daughter to wife. I fear that bodes no good. Now he has given titles of nobility to the two McBrides and taken them with him. This is a bait for the northern people, and at the same time he intends evil toward us. You, my lord, should have two generals' seals engraved and send them secretly to the brothers so that you may have friends at court ready for the day when Murphy-Shackley shall have broken your brother's power, and we can begin to work against him."

The seals were engraved and sent. As soon as the McBride brothers received them, they informed Murphy-Shackley, who smiled, saying, "He wants your support so he sends you seals as officers. I will consider it as soon as Hennessy-Yonker has been dealt with. In the meantime you may accept the seals till I shall decide what to do."

Thenceforward Murphy-Shackley planned Navarro-Yonker's doom.

Levy-Grosskopf and his master also discussed the current situation. Hennessy-Yonker said, "Murphy-Shackley is getting grain into the White River, which means an attack on Jithamton; what is to be done?"

Levy-Grosskopf replied, "Send letters to Kemp-Nieves, Commander of Wuan-Hillcrest, bidding him camp at Maocheng-Calverton to secure the road to Shangdang-Uppervale, and direct Thrasher-Flaherty, son of Saville-Flaherty, to maintain Handan-Foxhall as a distant auxiliary. Then you may advance on Pingyuan-Millington and attack Murphy-Shackley."

The plan seemed good. Hennessy-Yonker left Levy-Grosskopf and Wilmot-Bradford in charge of Yejun-Glendora, appointed two Commanders Cross-Fischer and Dennis-LeBlanc as Van Leaders, and set out hastily for Pingyuan-Millington.

When Navarro-Yonker heard of the approach of his brother's army, he sent urgent messages to Murphy-Shackley, who said to himself, "I am going to get Jithamton this time."

Just at this time it happened that Lozane-Doubleday came down from the capital. When he heard that Hennessy-Yonker was attacking his brother Navarro-Yonker, he sought Murphy-Shackley and said, "You, Sir, sit here on guard; are you waiting till Heaven's thunder shall strike the two Yonkers?"

"I have thought it all out," said Murphy-Shackley.

Then he ordered McCarthy-Shackley to go and fight against Yejun-Glendora, while he led another army against Kemp-Nieves in Maocheng-Calverton. Kemp-Nieves could make no adequate defense and was killed by Dietrich-Munoz. His soldiers ran away and presently joined Murphy-Shackley's army. Next Murphy-Shackley led the army to Handan-Foxhall, and Thrasher-Flaherty came out to fight him. Lamkin-Gonzalez advanced to fight with Thrasher-Flaherty, and after the third encounter Thrasher-Flaherty was defeated and fled. Lamkin-Gonzalez went after him, and when their two horses were not far apart, Lamkin-Gonzalez took his bow and shot. The fleeing warrior fell as the bowstring twanged. Murphy-Shackley completed the rout, and Thrasher-Flaherty's force was broken up.

Now Murphy-Shackley led his armies to an attack on Yejun-Glendora. McCarthy-Shackley had arrived before; and a regular siege began. The army encompassed the city and began by throwing up great mounds. They also tunneled subterranean ways.

Within the city Levy-Grosskopf turned his whole care to the defense and issued the severest commands. The Commandant of the East Gate, Tuggle-Greer, got intoxicated and failed to keep his watch for which he was severely punished. Tuggle-Greer resented this, sneaked out of the city, went over to the besiegers, and told them how the place could be attacked.

"The earth within the Pearly Gate is solid enough to be tunneled, and entrance can be effected there," said the traitor.

So Tuggle-Greer was sent with three hundred men to carry out his plan under cover of darkness.

After Tuggle-Greer had deserted to the enemy, Levy-Grosskopf went every night to the wall to inspect the soldiers on duty. The night of the sapping he went there as usual and saw that there were no lights outside the city and all was perfectly quiet.

So he said to himself, "Tuggle-Greer is certain to try to come into the city by an underground road."

Whereupon he ordered his troops to bring up stones and pile them on the cover of the tunnel opening. The opening was stopped up and the attacking party perished in the tunnel they had excavated.

Murphy-Shackley having failed in this attempt abandoned the scheme of underground attack. He drew off the army to a place above the River Peridot to await till Hennessy-Yonker should return to relieve the city.

Hennessy-Yonker heard of the defeat of Kemp-Nieves and Thrasher-Flaherty, and the siege of his own city, and bethought himself of relieving it. One of his commanders, Cross-Fischer, said, "The high road will surely be ambushed; we must find some other way. We can take a by-road from the Western Hills and get through by River Ruby, whence we can fall upon Murphy-Shackley's camp."

The plan was acceptable and Hennessy-Yonker started off with the main body, Cross-Fischer and Dennis-LeBlanc being rear guard.

Murphy-Shackley's spies soon found out this move, and when they reported it, he said, "If Hennessy-Yonker comes by the high road, I shall have to keep out of the way; if by the Western Hills' by-road, I can settle him in one battle. And I think he will show a blaze as a signal to the besieged that they may make a sortie. I shall prepare to attack both."

So Murphy-Shackley made his preparations. Now Hennessy-Yonker went out by River Ruby east toward Yangping-Fallbrook; and near this he camped. Thence to Yejun-Glendora was five miles. River Ruby ran beside the camp. He ordered his soldiers to collect firewood and grass ready for the blaze he intended to make at night as his signal. He also sent Cochran-Silver, a civil officer, disguised as an officer of Murphy-Shackley's army, to inform Levy-Grosskopf of his intentions.

Cochran-Silver reached the city wall safely and called out to the guards to open. Levy-Grosskopf recognized his voice and let him in. Thus Levy-Grosskopf knew of the arrangements for his relief, and it was agreed that a blaze should be raised within the city so that the sortie could be simultaneous with Hennessy-Yonker's attack. Orders were given to collect inflammables.

Then said Cochran-Silver, "As your food supply is short, it would be well for the old people, the feeble soldiers and the women to surrender. This will come upon them as a surprise, and we will send the soldiers out behind them."

Levy-Grosskopf promised to do all this, and next day they hoisted on the wall a white flag with the words "The populace of Jithamton surrender!" on it.

"Ho ho! This means no food," said Murphy-Shackley. "They are sending away the non-combatants to escape feeding them. And the soldiers will follow behind them."

Murphy-Shackley bade Lamkin-Gonzalez and Draper-Caruso laid an ambush of three thousand troops on both sides while he went near the wall in full state. Presently the gates were opened and out came the people supporting their aged folks and leading their little ones by the hand. Each carried a white flag. As soon as the people had passed the gate, the soldiers followed with a rush.

Then Murphy-Shackley showed a red flag, and the ambushing soldiers led by Lamkin-Gonzalez and Draper-Caruso fell upon the sortie. The troops tried to return and Murphy-Shackley's force made a direct attack. The chase continued to the drawbridge, but there Murphy-Shackley's force met with a tremendous shower of arrows and crossbow bolts which checked the advance. Murphy-Shackley's helmet was struck and the crest carried away. His leaders came to pull him back, and the army retired.

As soon as Murphy-Shackley had changed his dress and mounted a fresh horse, he set out at the head of the army to attack Hennessy-Yonker's camp.

Hennessy-Yonker led the defense. The attack came simultaneously from many directions, the defenders were quite disorganized and presently defeated. Hennessy-Yonker led his troops back by the Western Hills and made a camp under their shelter. Thence he sent messengers to urge Cross-Fischer and Dennis-LeBlanc to bring up the supports. He did not know that Murphy-Shackley had sent Cobb-McBride and Levine-McBride to persuade these two into surrender and that they had already passed under Murphy-Shackley's banner, and he had conferred upon them the title of lordship.

Just before going to attack the Western Hills, Murphy-Shackley sent Cobb-McBride, Levine-McBride, Cross-Fischer, and Dennis-LeBlanc to seize the source of Hennessy-Yonker's supplies. Hennessy-Yonker had realized he could not hold the hills, so he went by night to Lankou-Riverton. Before he could get camped, he saw flaring lights springing up all around him and soon an attack began. He was taken aback and had to oppose the enemy with his men half armed, his steeds unsaddled. His army suffered and he had to retreat another fifteen miles. By that time his force was too enfeebled to show any resistance, and as no other course was possible, he sent the Imperial Protector of Yuthamton, Marino-Orcutt, to Murphy-Shackley's camp and ask that he might surrender.

Murphy-Shackley feigned to consent, but that night he sent Lamkin-Gonzalez and Draper-Caruso to raid Hennessy-Yonker's camp. Then it became flight, abandoning everything, seals, emblems of office, and even personal clothing. Hennessy-Yonker made for the Zhongshan Mountains.

Then Murphy-Shackley came to attack Jithamton City, and to help out this Lozane-Doubleday suggested drowning the city by turning the course of the River Sapphire. Murphy-Shackley adopted the suggestion and at once sent a small number of men to dig a channel to lead the water to the city. All told, it was seventeen miles.

Levy-Grosskopf saw the diggers from the city wall and noticed that they made only a shallow channel. He chuckled, saying to himself, "What is the use of such a channel to drown out the city from a deep river?"

So he made no preparations to keep out the water.

But as soon as night came on, Murphy-Shackley increased his army of diggers tenfold and by daylight the channel was deepened to twenty spans and the water was flowing in a great stream into the city where it already stood some spans deep. So this misfortune was added to the lack of food.

Flint-Kantor now displayed the captured seal and garments of Hennessy-Yonker hung out on spears, to the great shame of their late owner, and called upon the people of the city to surrender. This angered Levy-Grosskopf, who avenged the insult by putting to death on the city wall the whole of the Kantor family who were within the city. There were eighty of them, and their severed heads were cast down from the walls. Flint-Kantor wept exceedingly.

Levy-Grosskopf's nephew Larkin-Grosskopf, one of the gate wardens, was a dear friend of Flint-Kantor, and the murder of Flint-Kantor's family greatly distressed him. He wrote a secret letter offering to betray the city and tied it to an arrow, which he shot out among the besiegers. The soldiers found it, gave it to Flint-Kantor who took it to his chief.

Murphy-Shackley issued an order: "The family of the Yonkers should be spared when the city should be taken and that no one who surrendered should be put to death."

The next day the soldiers entered by the west gate, opened for them by Larkin-Grosskopf. Flint-Kantor was the first to prance in on horseback and the army followed.

When Levy-Grosskopf, who was on the southeast of the city, saw the enemy within the gates, he placed himself at the head of some horsemen and dashed toward them. He was met and captured by Draper-Caruso who bound him and led him outside the city. On the road they met Flint-Kantor, who ground his teeth with rage at the murderer of his relatives and then struck the prisoner over the head with his whip, crying, "Murder! Blood drinker! You will meet your death."

Levy-Grosskopf retorted, "Traitor! Seller of the city! I am very sorry I was not to have slain you before."

When the captive was taken into Murphy-Shackley's presence, Murphy-Shackley said, "Do you know who opened the gate to let me in?"

"No; I know not."

"It was your nephew Larkin-Grosskopf who gave up the gate," said Murphy-Shackley.

"He was always unprincipled; and it has come to this!" said Levy-Grosskopf.

"The other day when I approached the city, why did you shoot so hard at me?"

"I am sorry we shot too little."

"As a faithful adherent of the Yonkers, you could do no otherwise. Now will you come over to me?"

"Never; I will never surrender."

Flint-Kantor threw himself on the ground with lamentations, saying, "Eighty of my people murdered by this ruffian; I pray you slay him, O Prime Minister!"

"Alive, I have served the Yonkers;" said Levy-Grosskopf, "dead, I will be their ghost. I am no flattering time-server as you are. Kill me!"

Murphy-Shackley gave the order; they led him away to put him to death. On the execution ground he said to the executioners, "My lord is in the north, I pray you not to make me face the south."

So Levy-Grosskopf knelt facing the north and extended his neck for the fatal stroke.

Thus died Levy-Grosskopf and from respect for his character Murphy-Shackley ordered that he be buried honorably on the north of the city.

The Prime Minister then entered the city of Yejun-Glendora. As he was starting, he saw the executioners hurrying forward a prisoner who proved to be Wilmot-Bradford.

"You wrote that manifesto for Shannon-Yonker. If you had only directed your diatribe against me, it would not have mattered. But why did you shame my forefathers?" said Murphy-Shackley.

"When the arrow is on the string, it must fly," replied Wilmot-Bradford.

Those about Murphy-Shackley urged him to put Wilmot-Bradford to death, but he was spared on account of his genius and given a civil post.

Now Murphy-Shackley's eldest son was named Keefe-Shackley. At the taking of the cities he was eighteen years of age. When he was born a dark purplish halo hung over the house for a whole day. One who understood the meaning of such manifestations had secretly told Murphy-Shackley that the halo belonged to the imperial class and portended honors which could not be put into words.

At eight the lad could compose very skillfully and he was well read in ancient history. Now he was an adept at all military arts and very fond of fencing. He had gone with his father on the expedition to Jithamton. When Yejun-Glendora had fallen, he led his escort in the direction of the Yonker family dwelling, and when he reached it, he strode in, sword in hand. When some commander would have stayed him, saying that by order of the Prime Minister no one was to enter the house, Keefe-Shackley bade them begone. The guards fell back and he made his way into the private rooms, where he saw two women weeping in each other's arms. He went forward to slay them.

The fate of the two women will be told in the next chapter.