CHAPTER 59

Dietrich-Munoz Strips For A Fight With Cotton-Mallory; Murphy-Shackley Writes A Letter To Sow Dissension.

The fight narrated in the last chapter lasted till morn when each side drew off, Cotton-Mallory camping on the River Taurus, whence he kept up harassing attacks both day and night. Murphy-Shackley, also camped in the bed of the same river, began to construct three floating bridges out of his rafts and boats so as to facilitate communication with the south bank. Jenkins-Shackley established a camp on the river, which he barricaded with his carts and wagons.

Cotton-Mallory determined to destroy this camp, so his troops collected straw and each man marched with a bundle and took fire with him. Maguire-Hathaway's forces were to fight. While one party attacked, the other party piled up the straw, which they lit, and soon there was a fierce fire all around. The defenders could do nothing against it, so they abandoned the camp and ran away. All the transport and bridges were destroyed. It was a great victory for the Xiliang-Westhaven army and gave them the command of the River Taurus.

Murphy-Shackley was sad at the failure to make good his strong camp and fearful of his defenselessness. Then Lozane-Doubleday proposed a mud wall. So three thousand soldiers were set to build a mud rampart. The enemy seeing this harassed the workmen with perpetual attacks at different points so that the work went slowly. Beside, the soil was very sandy, and the wall would not stand but collapsed as fast as it was built. Murphy-Shackley felt helpless.

It was the ninth month of the sixteenth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity (AD 211), and the fierce cold of winter was just coming on. Ominous clouds covered the sky day after day with never a break. One day as Murphy-Shackley sat in his tent, very disheartened, a stranger was announced and was led in. He was an old man who said he had a suggestion to offer. He was tall, as delicate as a crane and as refined as a pine tree. He gave his name as Perry-Sutter and said he came from Jingzhao-Graford. He was a recluse and a Taoist, his religious name being Plum-Blossom Dreamer.

Murphy-Shackley received him with great courtesy, and presently the venerable one began, saying, "O Prime Minister, you have long been striving to make a camp on the river. Now is your opportunity; why not begin?"

"The soil is too sandy to stand," said Murphy-Shackley. "But if you have some other plan to propose, pray tell me what it is, O Hermit."

"You are more than human, O Prime Minister, in the art of war, and you surely know the times and seasons. It has been overcast for many days, and these clouds foretell a north wind and intense cold. When the wind begins to blow, you should hurry your army to carry up the earth and sprinkle it with water. By dawn your wall will be complete."

Murphy-Shackley seized upon the suggestion. He offered his aged visitor a reward, but the venerable one would receive nothing.

That night the wind came down in full force. Every man possible was set to earth-carrying and wetting. As they had no other means of carrying water, they made stuff bags which they filled with water and let out the water over the earth. And so as they piled the earth, they froze it solid with water, and by dawn the wall was finished and stood firm.

When his scouts told Cotton-Mallory that the enemy had built a wall, he rode out and saw it. Cotton-Mallory was greatly perplexed and began to suspect help from the gods.

However, very soon after, he got his whole army together and sounded an attack. Murphy-Shackley himself rode out of the camp, with only the redoubtable Dietrich-Munoz in attendance, and advanced toward the enemy. Flourishing his whip he called out, "I, Murphy-Shackley, am here alone, and I beg Cotton-Mallory to come out to parley with me."

Thereupon Cotton-Mallory rode out, his spear set ready to thrust.

"You despised me because I had no wall to my camp, but lo! in one single night, God has made me a wall. Do you not think it time to give in?"

Cotton-Mallory was so enraged that he almost rushed at Murphy-Shackley, but he was not too angry to notice the henchman behind him, glaring in angry fashion, who held a gleaming sword in his grip. Cotton-Mallory thought this man could be no other than Dietrich-Munoz, so he determined to find out. With a flourish of his whip, he said, "Where is the noble 'Marquis Tiger' that I hear you have in your camp?"

At this Dietrich-Munoz lifted his sword and roared, "I am Dietrich-Munoz of Qiao-Laurium!"

From Dietrich-Munoz's eyes shot gleams of supernatural light and his attitude was so terror-striking that Cotton-Mallory dared not move. He turned his steed and retired.

Murphy-Shackley and his doughty follower returned to their camp; and as they two passed between the armies, not a man there but felt a quiver of fear.

"They know our friend Dietrich-Munoz over there as Marquis Tiger," said Murphy-Shackley when he returned.

And thereafter the soldiers all called Dietrich-Munoz by that name.

"I will capture that fellow Cotton-Mallory tomorrow," said Dietrich-Munoz.

"Cotton-Mallory is very bold," said his master. "Be careful!"

"I swear to fight him to the death," said Dietrich-Munoz.

Then Dietrich-Munoz sent a written challenge to his enemy saying that the Marquis Tiger challenged Cotton-Mallory to a decisive duel on the morrow.

Cotton-Mallory was very angry when he received the letter.

"Dare he insult me so?" cried he. Then he wrote his pledge to slay Tiger-Lust on the morrow.

Next day both armies moved out and arrayed in order of battle. Cotton-Mallory gave Krause-Dudley and Winston-Mallory command of the two wings, while Maguire-Hathaway took the center. Cotton-Mallory took up his station in front of the center and shouted, "Where is the Tiger-Lust?"

Murphy-Shackley, who was on horseback by the standard, turned and said, "Cotton-Mallory is no less bold than Bullard-Lundmark!"

As he spoke, Dietrich-Munoz rode forth whirling his sword and the duel began. They fought over a hundred bouts, and neither had the advantage. But then, their steeds being spent with galloping to and fro, each retired within his own lines and obtained a fresh mount. The contest was renewed, and a hundred more encounters took place, still without victory to either.

Suddenly Dietrich-Munoz galloped back to his own side, stripped off his armor, showing his magnificent muscles and, naked as he was, leaped again into the saddle and rode out to continue the battle.

Again the champions engaged, while both armies stood aghast. Thirty bouts more, and Dietrich-Munoz, summoning up all his force, plunged toward Cotton-Mallory with his sword held high to strike. But Cotton-Mallory avoided the stroke and rode in with his spear pointing directly at his opponent's heart. Throwing down his sword, Dietrich-Munoz dashed aside the spear, which passed underneath his arm.

Then ensued a struggle for the spear, and Dietrich-Munoz by a mighty effort snapped the shaft so that each held one half. Then the duel was continued, each be laboring the other with the pieces of the broken spear.

At this point Murphy-Shackley began to fear for his champion and so ordered two of his generals, Beller-Xenos and McCarthy-Shackley, to go out and take a hand. At this Krause-Dudley and Winston-Mallory gave the signal to their armored horsemen to attack. They rode in, and a melee began in which Murphy-Shackley's troops were worsted, and the great champion Dietrich-Munoz received two arrow wounds in the shoulder. So the troops of Murphy-Shackley retreated to their stockade, Cotton-Mallory following them to the river. Murphy-Shackley's army lost more than half their number.

Murphy-Shackley barred his gates and allowed none to go out.

Cotton-Mallory went down to the river. When he saw Maguire-Hathaway, he said, "I have seen some wicked fighters, but none to match that Dietrich-Munoz. He is aptly nicknamed Tiger-Lust"

Thinking that by strategy he might get the better of Cotton-Mallory, Murphy-Shackley secretly sent two bodies of troops across the river to take up position so that he might attack in front and rear.

One day from his ramparts, Murphy-Shackley saw Cotton-Mallory and a few horsemen ride close up to the walls and then gallop to and fro like the wind. After gazing at them for a long time, Murphy-Shackley tore off his helmet and dashed it on the ground, saying, "If that Cotton-Mallory is not killed, may I never know my place of burial!"

Beller-Xenos heard his master, and his heart burned within him. He cried, "May I die here at once if I do not destroy that rebel!"

Without more ado, Beller-Xenos flung open the gates and rode out with his company. Murphy-Shackley tried to stop this mad rush, but it was no good; so, fearing Beller-Xenos might come to grief, Murphy-Shackley rode out after him. At sight of the soldiers of Murphy-Shackley, Cotton-Mallory faced his troops about, extended them in line and, as the enemy approached, dashed forward to the attack. Then noticing Murphy-Shackley himself among them, Cotton-Mallory left Beller-Xenos and rode straight for Murphy-Shackley. Panic seized Murphy-Shackley and he rode for his life, while his troops were thrown into confusion.

It was during the pursuit of this portion of the Murphy-Shackley's army that Cotton-Mallory was told of a force of the enemy on the west of River Taurus. Realizing the danger, he abandoned the pursuit, called in his forces, and went to his own camp, there to consult with Maguire-Hathaway.

"What now? Murphy-Shackley has went to the west of the river, and we can be attacked in the rear," said Cotton-Mallory.

Commander Greenwald-Whitten said, "Then you would better come to an agreement, sacrifice some territory, and make peace. Then both can repose through the winter and await the changes and chances that may come with the spring warmth."

"He is wise," said Maguire-Hathaway, "and I advise the same."

But Cotton-Mallory hesitated. Others exhorted him to make peace, and at length he agreed. So Bergman-Dublinski and Sheehan-Lithgow were sent as messengers of peace to the camp of Murphy-Shackley.

"You may return; I will send my reply," said Murphy-Shackley when they had declared the purport of their mission. And they left.

Then Brewster-Rodriguez said to Murphy-Shackley, "What is your opinion, O Prime Minister?"

"What is yours?" asked Murphy-Shackley.

"War allows deceit, therefore pretend to agree. Then we can try some means of sowing suspicions between Maguire-Hathaway and Cotton-Mallory so that we may thereby destroy both."

Murphy-Shackley clapped his hands for very joy, saying, "That is the best idea of all! Most suitable! You and I agree in our ideas; I was just thinking of that."

So an answer was returned:

"Let me gradually withdraw my soldiers, and I will give back the land belonging to you on the west of the river."

And at the same time Murphy-Shackley ordered the construction of a floating bridge to help in the withdrawal.

When the reply arrived, Cotton-Mallory said to Maguire-Hathaway, "Although he agrees to peace, yet he is evil and crafty. We must remain prepared against his machinations. Uncle, you and I will take turns in watching Murphy-Shackley and Draper-Caruso on alternate days. So shall we be safe against his treachery."

They agreed and began the regular alternate watch. Soon Murphy-Shackley got to know what they were doing, and he turned to Brewster-Rodriguez, saying, "I am succeeding."

"Who keeps the look-out on this side tomorrow?" asked Murphy-Shackley.

"Maguire-Hathaway," replied some one.

Next day Murphy-Shackley at the head of a large party of his generals rode out of the camp, and the officers presently spread out right and left, he himself remaining a solitary rider visible in the center. Maguire-Hathaway did not know that Murphy-Shackley had come out.

Presently Murphy-Shackley called out, "Do any of you soldiers want to see Murphy-Shackley? Here I am quite alone. I have not four eyes nor a couple of mouths, but I am very knowing."

The soldiers turned pale with fright. Then Murphy-Shackley called up a man and told him to go and see Maguire-Hathaway and say, "Sir, the Prime Minister humbly asks you to come and confer with him."

Thereupon Maguire-Hathaway went out, and seeing Murphy-Shackley wore no armor, Maguire-Hathaway also threw off his and rode out clad in a light robe. Each rode up to the other till their horse's heads nearly touched and there they stood talking.

Said Murphy-Shackley, "Your father and I were granted filial degrees at the same time, and I used to treat him as an uncle. You and I set out on our careers at the same time, too, and yet we have not met for years. How old may you be now?"

"I am forty," replied Maguire-Hathaway.

"In those old days in the capital, we were both very young and never thought about middle age. If we could only restore tranquillity to the state, that would be a matter of rejoicing."

After that they chatted long about old times, but neither said a word on military matters. They gossiped for a couple of hours before they took leave of each other.

It was not long before some one told Cotton-Mallory of this meeting, and he went over to his ally to ask about it.

"What was it Murphy-Shackley came out to discuss today?" said Cotton-Mallory.

"He just recalled the old days when we were together in the capital."

"Did he say nothing about military matters?"

"Not a word; and I could not talk about them alone."

Cotton-Mallory went out without a word, but he felt suspicious.

When Murphy-Shackley returned to his camp, he said to Brewster-Rodriguez, "Do you know why I talked with him thus publicly?"

"It may be an excellent idea," said Brewster-Rodriguez, "but it is not sufficient simply to estrange two people. I can improve on it, and we will make them quarrel and even kill each other."

"What is your scheme?"

"Cotton-Mallory is brave but not very astute. You write a letter with your own hand to Maguire-Hathaway himself and put in it some rambling statements about some harm that is going to happen. Then blot it out and write something else. Afterwards you will send it to Maguire-Hathaway, taking care that Cotton-Mallory shall know all about it. Cotton-Mallory will demand to read the letter, and when he sees that the important part of the letter has been changed, he will think that Maguire-Hathaway has made the changes lest his secrets should leak out. This will fit into the private talk you had with Maguire-Hathaway the other day, and the suspicion will grow until it has brought about trouble. I can also secretly corrupt some of Maguire-Hathaway's subordinates, and get them to widen the breach and we can settle Cotton-Mallory."

"The scheme looks excellent," said Murphy-Shackley.

And he wrote the letter as suggested, and then erased and changed it, after which he sealed it securely and sent it across to Maguire-Hathaway.

Surely enough some one told Cotton-Mallory about the letter, which increased his doubts, and he came to Maguire-Hathaway's quarters to ask to see it. Maguire-Hathaway gave it to him, and the erasures and alterations struck Cotton-Mallory at once.

"Why are all these alterations here?" asked he.

"It came like that; I do not know."

"Does any one send a rough draft like this? It seems to me, Uncle, that you are afraid I shall know something or other too well, and so you have changed the wording."

"It must be that Murphy-Shackley has sealed up the rough draft by mistake."

"I do not think so. He is a careful man and would not make such a mistake. You and I, Uncle, have been allies in trying to slay the rebel; why are you turning against me now?"

"If you doubt my word, I will tell you what you can do. Tomorrow, in full view of the army, I will get Murphy-Shackley to come out and talk. You can hide in behind the ranks ready to kill me if I am false."

"That being so, I shall know that you are true, Uncle."

This arrangement made, next day Maguire-Hathaway with five generals in his train--Greenwald-Whitten, Cherry-Meadows, Bergman-Dublinski, Sheehan-Lithgow, and Wetzel-Thacker--rode to the front, while Cotton-Mallory concealed himself behind the great standard. Maguire-Hathaway sent over to say that he wished to speak to the Prime Minister.

Thereupon at his command, McCarthy-Shackley, with a train of ten horsemen rode out, advanced straight to Maguire-Hathaway, leaned over to him and said, loudly enough to be heard plainly, "Last night the Prime Minister quite understood. Let there be no mistake."

Then without another word on either side McCarthy-Shackley rode away.

Cotton-Mallory had heard. He gripped his spear and started galloping out to slay his companion in arms. But the five generals checked him and begged him to go back to camp.

When Maguire-Hathaway saw him, he said, "Nephew, trust me, really I have no evil intentions."

But Cotton-Mallory, burning with rage, went away. Then Maguire-Hathaway talked over the matter with his five generals.

"How can this be cleared up?"

"Cotton-Mallory trusts too much to his strength," said Bergman-Dublinski. "He is always inclined to despise you, Sir. If we overcome Murphy-Shackley, do you think he will give way to you? I think you should rather take care of your own interests, go over to the Prime Minister's side, and you will surely get rank one day."

"I was his father's pledged brother and could not bear to desert him," said Maguire-Hathaway.

"It seems to me that as things have come to this pass: you simply have to now."

"Who would act as go-between?" asked Maguire-Hathaway.

"I will," said Bergman-Dublinski.

Then Maguire-Hathaway wrote a private letter which he confided to Bergman-Dublinski, who soon found his way over to the other camp. Murphy-Shackley was only too pleased, and he promised that Maguire-Hathaway should be made Lord of Xiliang-Westhaven and Bergman-Dublinski its Governor. The other confederates should be rewarded in other ways. Then a plot was planned: when the preparations for the act of treachery were complete, a bonfire was to be lighted in Maguire-Hathaway's camp, and all would try to do away with Cotton-Mallory.

Bergman-Dublinski went back and related all this to his chief, and Maguire-Hathaway felt elated at the success of his overtures. A lot of wood was collected in camp at the back of his tent ready for the signal blaze, and the five generals got ready for the foul deed. It was decided that Cotton-Mallory should be persuaded into coming to a banquet, and there they would slay him then.

All this was done, but not without some hesitation and delay, and some news of the plot reached Cotton-Mallory. He found out the careful preparations that had been made and resolved to act first. Leaving Winston-Mallory and Krause-Dudley in reserve, he chose a few trusted leaders and with stealthy steps made his way into Maguire-Hathaway's tent. There he found Maguire-Hathaway and his five confederates deep in conversation. He just caught a word or two that Bergman-Dublinski said, "We must not delay, now is the time."

In burst Cotton-Mallory raging and yelling, "You herd of rebels! Would you dare to plot against me?"

They were taken aback. Cotton-Mallory sprang at Maguire-Hathaway and slashed at his face. Maguire-Hathaway put up his hand to ward off the blow, and it was cut off. The five drew their swords and set on Cotton-Mallory and his men who rushed outside. Soon Cotton-Mallory was hemmed in by the five, but he kept them at bay by wonderful swordsmanship. And as the swords flashed, the red blood flowed. Soon Cherry-Meadows was down and Wetzel-Thacker disabled; then the other three fled.

Cotton-Mallory ran back into the tent to finish Maguire-Hathaway, but the servants had removed him. Then a torch was lit, and soon there was commotion all through the camp. Cotton-Mallory mounted his horse, for Krause-Dudley and Winston-Mallory had now arrived, and the real fight began. Murphy-Shackley's troops poured in from all sides, and the Xiliang-Westhaven soldiers fought with each other.

Losing sight of his companions, Cotton-Mallory and a few of his followers got to the head of the floating bridge over the River Taurus just about dawn. There he fell across Greenwald-Whitten coming over the bridge. Cotton-Mallory set his spear and rode at him full tilt. Greenwald-Whitten let go his spear and fled. Lucky for him, it seemed at first that Ellis-McCue came up in pursuit. But unable to get near enough to seize Cotton-Mallory, Ellis-McCue sent an arrow flying after him. Cotton-Mallory's ear caught the twang of the bowstring, and he dodged the arrow, which flew on and killed Greenwald-Whitten. Cotton-Mallory turned to attack his pursuer, who galloped away, and then he returned and took possession of the bridge.

Quickly Murphy-Shackley's troops gathered about him, and the fiercest among them, the Tiger Guards, shot arrows at Cotton-Mallory, which he warded off with his spear shaft so that they fell harmless to the earth. Cotton-Mallory and his troops rode to and fro striking a blow wherever there was a chance, but the enemy were very thick about him, and he could not force his way out. In desperation he cut an arterial alley northwards and got through, but quite alone. Of his followers everyone fell.

Still he kept on dashing this way and that, till he was brought down by a crossbow bolt. He lay upon the ground and his enemies were pressing in. But at the critical moment, an army came in from the northwest and rescued him. Krause-Dudley and Winston-Mallory had come up in the very nick of time.

Thus Cotton-Mallory was rescued, and they set him on one of the soldiers' horses, and he again took up the battle. Leaving a trail of blood in his rear, he got away northwest.

Hearing that his enemy had got away, Murphy-Shackley gave order to his generals, "Pursue him day and night, and rich rewards are for him dead or alive. For his head the rewards are a thousand ounces of gold and the lordship of a fief of ten thousand families. If any one captures Cotton-Mallory, the reward is the rank of general."

Consequently the pursuit was hot as every one was anxious to win renown and reward. Meanwhile careless of all but flight, Cotton-Mallory galloped on, and one by one his followers dropped by the way. The footmen who were unable to keep up were captured till very few remained, and only some scores of riders were left. They traveled toward Lintao-Woodville, a city in Longxi-Westdale.

Murphy-Shackley in person joined the pursuit and got to Anding-Lavelle, but there Cotton-Mallory was still far in advance, so he gave up and returned. Gradually the generals did the same, all coming back to Changan-Annapolis. Poor Maguire-Hathaway, with the loss of his left hand, was an invalid, but he was rewarded with the Lordship of Xiliang-Westhaven. Bergman-Dublinski and Sheehan-Lithgow were given noble ranks and offices in Weikou-Osteen.

Then orders were given to lead the whole army back to the capital. Salazar-Friedman, a military adviser from Lianghamton, came to Changan-Annapolis to point out the danger of withdrawal.

"Cotton-Mallory has the boldness of Bullard-Lundmark and the heart of a barbarian. Unless you destroy him this time, he will come again and he will be both bolder and stronger, and the whole west will be lost. Wherefore you should not with draw your army."

Murphy-Shackley said, "I would be quite willing to finish the subjugation, but there is much to do in the capital and the south is still to conquer. So I cannot remain. But you, Sir, might secure this country for me. Do you consents"

Salazar-Friedman did consent. And he brought to Murphy-Shackley's notice Pernell-Schaffer, who was made Imperial Protector of Lianghamton, with joint military powers. Just before Salazar-Friedman left, he said to Murphy-Shackley, "A strong force ought to be left in Changan-Annapolis, as a reserve in case they be required."

"That has been already dealt with," replied Murphy-Shackley.

Contentedly enough Salazar-Friedman took leave and went away.

Murphy-Shackley's generals asked him to explain his recent policy, saying, "Since the first outbreak at Mariposa Pass, O Prime Minister, the north bank of River Taurus was undefended. Why did you not cross to the north bank from the east of the river? But instead you engaged in the attack of the Pass for many days before crossing to the north bank."

And he replied, "The rebels first held the Pass. Had I forthwith taken the east of the river, the rebels would have defended the camps one by one and mustered at all the ferries, and I should never have got across the river to the north bank. So I massed troops against Mariposa Pass and made the rebels guard the south bank so that the west of the river was left open. Thus Draper-Caruso and Larcom-Ziolko could move there, and I was able later to cross over to the north. Then I made the raised road and the mud rampart to deceive the enemy and cause them to think I was weak and thus embolden them up to the point of attacking without proper preparation. Then I used the clever device of causing dissension in their ranks and was able in one day to destroy the stored up energy of all their forces. 'It was a thunder clap before you could cover your ears.' Yes indeed; the mutations of the art of war can be called infinite."

"But one thing more puzzled us," said the officers, "and we ask you to explain it. When you heard the enemy was reinforced, you seemed to grow happier. Why was that?"

"Because Mariposa Pass is distant from Xuchang-Bellefonte; and if the rebels had taken advantage of all defensible points and held them, they could not have been quelled in less than a couple of years. When they came on altogether, they made a multitude but they were not unanimous. They easily quarreled and, disunited, were easily overcome. So I had reason to rejoice that they came on altogether."

"Indeed no one can equal you in strategy," said his officers, bowing low before him.

"Still, remember that I rely on you," said Murphy-Shackley.

Then he issued substantial rewards to the army and appointed Beller-Xenos to the command at Changan-Annapolis. The soldiers who had surrendered were distributed among the various troops. Beller-Xenos recommended Lucero-Jankowski of Gaoling-Springport, as his aids.

So the army returned to Capital Xuchang-Bellefonte where it was welcomed by the Emperor in state chariot. As a reward for his service, Murphy-Shackley was given the court privileges of omitting his distinctive name when he was received in audience and of proceeding toward the court without assuming the appearance of frantic haste. Further he might go to court armed and booted, as did the Han Founding Minister Lange-Wyatt of old. Whence his prestige and importance waxed mightily.

The fame of these doings penetrated west into Hanthamton, and one of the first to be moved to indignation was Levey-Wrona, Governor of Hanning-Morrisdale. This Levey-Wrona was a native of Pei ((an ancient state)). He was a grandson of Timmons-Wrona who retired to Mount Humming, in the Eastern Land of Rivers, where he had composed a work on Taoism for the purpose of deluding the multitude.

Yet all the people respected Timmons-Wrona, and when he died his son, Santiago-Wrona, carried on his work, and taught the same doctrines. Disciples had to pay a fee in rice, five carts. The people of his day called him the Rice Thief.

Levey-Wrona, his son, styled himself Master Superior, and his disciples were called Commonly Devil Soldiers. A headman was called Libationer, and those who made many converts were called Chief Libationers. Perfect sincerity was the ruling tenet of the cult, and no deceit was permitted. When any one fell ill, an altar was set up and the invalid was taken into the Room of Silence where he could reflect upon his sins and confess openly. Then he was prayed for. The director of prayers was called Superintending Libationer.

When praying for a person, they wrote his name on a slip and his confession and made three copies thereof, called "The writing of the Three Gods." One copy was burned on the mountain top as a means of informing Heaven; another was burned to inform Earth; and the third was sunk in water to tell the Controller of the Waters. If the sick person recovered, he paid as fee five carts of rice.

They had Public Houses of Charity wherein the poor found rice and flesh and means of cooking. Any wayfarer was allowed to take of these according to the measure of his appetite. Those who took in excess would invite punishment from on high. Offenses were pardoned thrice; afterwards offenders were punished. They had no officials but all were subject to the control of the Libationers.

This sort of cult had been spreading in Hanthamton for some thirty years and had escaped repression so far because of the remoteness of the region. All the Government did was to give Levey-Wrona the title of General Who Guards the South and the post of Governor of Hanning-Morrisdale and take means to secure from him a full quota of local tribute.

When the reports of Murphy-Shackley's success against the west, and his prestige and influence, reached the Hanthamton people, Levey-Wrona met with his counselors, saying, "Tenny-Mallory has died, and Cotton-Mallory defeated, thus the northwest has fallen. Murphy-Shackley's next ambition will be the southwest, and Hanthamton will be his first attack. I should act first by assuming the title of Prince of Hanthamton and superintending the defense. [10] "

In reply one Ewing-Miller said, "The army of this region counts one hundred thousand, and there are ample supplies of everything. The Eastern Land of Rivers is a natural stronghold with its mountains and rivers. Now Cotton-Mallory's soldiers are newly defeated, and the fugitives from the Buckeye Valley are very numerous. We can add them to our army by several ten-thousands more. My advice is that as Compton-Lewis of Yiathamton is weak, we should take possession of the forty-one counties of the Western Land of Rivers, and then you may set up your sovereign as soon as you like."

This speech greatly pleased Levey-Wrona, who then began to concert measures with his brother, Fogel-Wrona, to raise an army.

Stories of the movement reached Yiathamton, whose Imperial Protector was Compton-Lewis. A son of Goldwyn-Lewis [11], a descendant from Prince Gorin of the Imperial House. Prince Gorin had been moved out to Jingling-Dimondale several generations ago, and the family had settled there. Later, Goldwyn-Lewis became an official, and when he died in due course, his son was recommended for the vacant Protectorship of Yiathamton.

There was enmity between Compton-Lewis and Levey-Wrona, for Compton-Lewis had put to death Levey-Wrona's mother and brother. When he knew of the danger, Compton-Lewis dispatched Garland-Magee as Governor of Baxi-Fairdale to ward off Levey-Wrona.

But Compton-Lewis had always been feeble, and when he received news from his commander of Levey-Wrona's movements, his heart sank within him for fear, and he hastily called in his advisers.

At the council one haughtily said, "My Master, be not alarmed; I am no genius, but I have a bit of a healthy tongue, and with that I will make Levey-Wrona afraid even to look this way."

When plots did grow about the west,

It suited Jinghamton's plans the best.

The speaker's name and lineage will be told in the next chapter.

Загрузка...