Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 3)

CHAPTER 90

All the prisoners were released; and McMahon-Westbrook and his sons were rewarded with ranks, and his people were given presents. They expressed their gratitude and returned to their own, while Halpin-Hearst and his brother hastened home to Silver Pit Hills.

Outside this ravine were three rivers--River Scorpio, River Pyrite, and River Corundum. These three streams united to form Three Rivers. Close to the ravine on the north was a wide and fruitful plain; on the west were salt wells. The River Scorpio flowed about seventy miles to the southwest, and due south was a valley called the Liangdu Ravine. There were hills in, as well as surrounding, the ravine, and in these they found silver; whence the name "Silver Pit."

A palace complex had been built in the ravine, which the Mang kings had made their stronghold, and there was an ancestral temple, which they called "Family Spirits," where they solemnized sacrifices of bulls and horses at the four seasons. They called these sacrifices "Inquiring of the Spirits." Human sacrifices were offered also, humans of Shu or of their own people belonging to other villages. The sick swallowed no drugs, but prayed to a chief sorcerer, called "Drug Demon." There was no legal code, the only punishment for every transgression being death.

When girls are grown and become women, they bathe in a stream. Men and women are kept separate, and they marry whom they will, the parents having no control in that particular. There was no formal vocational training. In good seasons the country produces grain, but if the harvest fails, they make soup out of serpents and eat boiled elephant flesh.

All over the country the head of the family of greatest local consideration is termed "King of the Ravine," and the next in importance is called a "Notable." A market is held in the city of Three Rivers, on the first day of every moon, and another on the fifteenth; goods are brought in and bartered.

In his own ravine, Halpin-Hearst gathered his family and clan to the number of a thousand or more and addressed them: "I have been put to shame by the leaders of Shu many times, and I have sworn to take revenge for the insults. Has anyone any proposal to make?"

Thereupon a certain one replied, saying, "I can produce a man able to defeat Orchard-Lafayette."

The assembly turned to the speaker, who was a brother of Halpin-Hearst's wife. He was the head of eight tribes of the Southern Mangs, and was named Chief Nowak-Carder.

"Who is the man?" asked Halpin-Hearst.

Chief Nowak-Carder replied, "He is Gallina-Peacock, King of the Bana Ravine. He is a master of witchcraft who can call up the wind and invoke the rain. He rides upon an elephant and is attended by tigers, leopards, wolves, venomous snakes, and scorpions. Beside, he has under his hand thirty thousand superhuman soldiers. He is very bold. O King, write him a letter and send him presents, which I will deliver. If he will consent to lend his aid, what fear have we of Shu?"

Halpin-Hearst was pleased with the scheme and ordered Nowak-Carder to draft a letter. Then he ordered Ecker-VanDyke to defend Three Rivers and make the first line of defense.

Orchard-Lafayette led his troops near the city of Three Rivers. Taking a survey of the country, he noted that the city was surrounded by the three rivers and could only be reached by a bank on one face, so he sent Oakley-Dobbins and Gilbert-Rocher to march along the road and attack. But when they reached the rampart, they found it well defended by bows and crossbows.

The defenders of the city were adepts in the use of the bow, and they had one sort which discharged ten arrows at once. Furthermore, the arrows were poisoned, and a wound meant certain death. The two generals saw that they could not succeed, and so retired.

When Orchard-Lafayette heard of the poisoned arrows, he mounted his light chariot and went to see for himself. Having regarded the defenses, he returned to his camp and ordered a retirement of three miles. This move delighted the Mangs, who congratulated each other on their success in driving off the besiegers, who, as they concluded, had been frightened away. So they gave themselves up to rejoicing and kept no watch. Nor did they even send out scouts.

The army of Shu made a strong camp in their new halting place and closed the gates for defense. For five days they gave no sign. One evening, just at sunset, a slight breeze began to blow. Then Orchard-Lafayette issued an order: "Every man should provide himself with a coat by the first watch. If any one lacks, he will be put to death."

None of the generals knew what was in the wind, but the order was obeyed. Next, each man was ordered to fill his coat with earth. This order appeared equally strange, but it was carried out. When all were ready, they were told: "You are to carry the earth to the foot of the city wall, and the first arrivals will be rewarded."

So they ran with all speed with the dry earth and reached the wall. Then with the earth they were ordered to make a raised way, and the first soldier on the wall was promised a reward.

The whole of the one hundred thousand troops of Shu, and their native allies, having thrown their burdens of earth near the wall, then quickly rushed up the incline, and with one great shout were on the wall. The archers on the wall were seized and dragged down; those who got clear ran away into the city. King Ecker-VanDyke was slain in the melee that followed on this attack. The soldiers of Shu moved through the city slaying all they met. Thus was the city captured and with it great booty of jewels, which were made over to the army as a reward for their prowess.

The few soldiers who escaped went away and told Halpin-Hearst what had happened to the city and King Ecker-VanDyke. Halpin-Hearst was much distressed. Before he had recovered, they told him that the army of Shu had come over and were encamped at the mouth of his own ravine.

Just as he was in the very depths of distress, a laugh came from behind the screen, and a woman appeared, saying, "Though you are brave, how stupid you are! I am only a woman, but I want to go out and fight."

The woman was his wife, Lady Pierrot. She was a descendant of the Pierrot family of the Southern Mang. She was expert in the use of the flying sword and never missed her aim.

Halpin-Hearst rose and bowed to her. Lady Pierrot thereupon mounted a horse and forthwith marched out at the head of a hundred generals, leading fifty thousand troops of the ravines, and set out to drive off the troops of Shu.

Just as the host got clear of the Silver Pit Palace, it was stopped by a cohort led by Neuberg-Giordano. At once the Mangs deployed, and the lady leader armed herself with five swords such as she used. In one hand she held an eighteen-foot signal staff, and she sat a curly-haired, reddish horse.

Neuberg-Giordano was secretly troubled at the sight before him, but he engaged the lady commander. After a few passes the lady turned her steed and bolted. Neuberg-Giordano went after her, but a sword came flying through the air directly at him. He tried to fend off with one hand, but it wounded his arm, and he fell to the ground. The Mangs gave a loud shout; some of them pounced on the unlucky leader and made him prisoner.

Then Glenn-Jenner, hearing his comrade had been taken, rushed out to rescue, but only to be surrounded. He saw the lady commander holding up her staff and made a dash forward, but just then the Mangs threw hooks and pulled down his steed, and he was also a prisoner.

Both generals were taken into the ravine and led before the King. He gave a banquet in honor of his wife's success, and during the feast the lady bade the lictors put the two prisoners to death. They hustled the two generals in and were just going to carry out their orders when Halpin-Hearst checked them.

"No; five times has Orchard-Lafayette set me at liberty. It would be unjust to put these to death. Confine them till we have taken their chief; then we may execute them."

His wife was merry with wine and did not object. So their lives were spared.

The defeated soldiers returned to their camp. Orchard-Lafayette took steps to retrieve the mishap by sending for Winston-Mallory, Gilbert-Rocher, and Oakley-Dobbins, to each of whom he gave special and private orders.

Next day the Mang soldiers reported to the King that Gilbert-Rocher was offering a challenge. Lady Pierrot forthwith mounted and rode out to battle. She engaged Gilbert-Rocher, who soon fled. The lady was too prudent to risk pursuit, and rode home. Then Oakley-Dobbins repeated the challenge; he also fled as if defeated. But again the lady declined to pursue. Next day Gilbert-Rocher repeated his challenge and ran away as before. Lady Pierrot signaled no pursuit. But at this Oakley-Dobbins rode up and opened a volley of abuse and obloquy. This proved too much, and she gave the signal to go after him and led the way. Oakley-Dobbins increased his pace, and the lady commander doubled hers, and she and her followers pressed into a narrow road along a valley. Suddenly behind her was heard a noise, and Oakley-Dobbins, turning his head, saw the lady tumble out of her saddle.

She had rushed into an ambush prepared by Winston-Mallory; her horse had been tripped up by ropes. She was captured, bound, and carried off to the Shu camp. Some of her people endeavored to rescue her, but they were driven off.

Orchard-Lafayette seated himself in his tent to see his prisoner, and Lady Pierrot was led up. He bade them remove her bonds, and she was conducted to another tent, where wine was laid before her. Then a message was sent to Halpin-Hearst to say that she would be exchanged for the two captive leaders. The King agreed, and they were set free. As soon as they arrived, the lady was escorted by Orchard-Lafayette himself to the mouth of the ravine, where Halpin-Hearst welcomed her half gladly, half angrily.

Then they told Halpin-Hearst of the coming of the King of the Bana Ravine, and he went out to meet Gallina-Peacock. Gallina-Peacock rode up on his white elephant, dressed in silks, and with many gold and pearl ornaments. He wore a double sword at his belt, and he was followed by the motley pack of fighting animals that he fed, gamboling and dancing about him.

Halpin-Hearst made him a low obeisance and then poured out his tale of woes. Gallina-Peacock promised to avenge his wrongs and was led off to a banquet which had been prepared.

Next day the deliverer went out to battle, with his pack of wild creatures in his train. Gilbert-Rocher and his colleague Oakley-Dobbins quickly made their array of footmen and then took their station in front side by side and studied their opponents. The Mang banners and weapons were all extraordinary. Most of the warriors wore no armor and none wore any clothing. Their faces were sunburned. They carried four sharp pointed knives in their belts. Signals were not given by drum or trumpet, but by a gong.

King Gallina-Peacock had two swords in his belt and carried a hand bell. He urged his white elephant forward and emerged from between his flags.

"We have spent all our life in the battlefields, but we have never seen the like of that before," said Gilbert-Rocher.

As they talked to one another, they noticed that the opposing leader was mumbling something that might be a spell or a curse, and from time to time he rang his bell. Then suddenly the wind got up, stones began to roll and sand to fly, and there was a sound as of a heavy shower of rain. Next a horn rang out, and thereupon the tigers and the leopards, and the wolves and the serpents, and all the other wild beasts came down on the wind snapping and clawing. How could the soldiers of Shu stand such a thing as that? So they retreated, and the Mangs came after them fiercely, chasing and slaying their enemies as far as the city of Three Rivers.

Gilbert-Rocher and Oakley-Dobbins mustered their defeated troops and went to their leader to confess their failure. Orchard-Lafayette, however, was neither angry nor dejected.

"The fault is not yours," he said. "Long ago, when I was still in my rustic hut, I knew the Mangs possessed certain powers over beasts, and I provided against this adventure before we left Shu. You will find twenty big sealed carts in the baggage train. We will use half of them now."

He bade his staff bring forward ten of the red box-carts. They all wondered what would happen. Then the carts were opened, and they turned out to be carved and colored models of huge wild beasts, with coats of worsted, teeth and claws of steel; each could accommodate ten people. Choosing one hundred beasts, he told off a thousand troops and bade them stuff the mouths of the beasts full of inflammables.

Next day the army of Shu marched out to the attack and were arrayed at the entrance to the Silver Pit Hills. The Mang soldiers went into the ravine and told their king. Gallina-Peacock, thinking himself perfectly invincible, did not hesitate, but marched out, taking Halpin-Hearst with him. Orchard-Lafayette, dressed in the simple robe of a Taoist, went out in his light chariot. In his hand he held a feather fan. Halpin-Hearst, who recognized his enemy, pointed him out to Gallina-Peacock.

"That is Orchard-Lafayette in that small chariot. If we can only capture him, our task is done."

Then Gallina-Peacock began to mutter his spells and to ring his bell. As before, the wind got up and blew with violence, and the wild beasts came on.

But at a wave of the simple feather fan, lo! the wind turned and blew the other way. Then from out of the host of Shu there burst the horrible wild beasts. The real wild beasts of the Mang saw rushing down upon them huge creatures, whose mouths vomited flames and whose nostrils breathed out black smoke. They came along with jingling bells, snapping and clawing, and the real beasts turned tail and fled in among the host of their own side, trampling them down as they sped. Orchard-Lafayette gave the signal for a general onset, and his troops rushed forward with beating drums and blaring trumpets. Gallina-Peacock was killed in the melee. Halpin-Hearst's whole clan fled in panic and tore up among the hills out of the way. And thus the Silver Pit Hill was taken.

Next day, as Orchard-Lafayette was telling off parties to search for and capture the King, it was announced that the brother-in-law of Halpin-Hearst, Chief Nowak-Carder, having vainly tried to persuade the King to yield, had made prisoners of him and his wife and all his clan and were bringing them to Orchard-Lafayette.

Hearing this, Neuberg-Giordano and Glenn-Jenner were called and received certain orders, upon which they hid themselves in the wings of the tent with a large body of sturdy warriors. This done, Orchard-Lafayette ordered the keepers to open the gates, and in came Chief Nowak-Carder with Halpin-Hearst and his people in custody. As Nowak-Carder bowed at the entrance of the hall, Orchard-Lafayette called out, "Let my strong captors appear!"

At once out came the hidden men, and every two of them laid hands upon a prisoner and bound him.

"Did you think your paltry ruse would deceive me?" said Orchard-Lafayette. "Here you are a second time captured by your own people and brought before me that you might surrender. The first time I did not hurt you. But now I firmly believe this surrender is part of a plot to kill me."

Then he called out to his guards to search the prisoners. They did so, and on every man they found a sharp knife.

"Did you not say that if your family were taken prisoners you would yield? How now?" said Orchard-Lafayette.

"We have come of our own will and at the risk of our lives; the credit is not yours. Still I refuse to yield," replied Halpin-Hearst.

"This is the sixth time I have captured you, and yet you are obstinate; what do you expect?"

"If you take me a seventh time, then I will turn to you and never rebel again."

"Well, your stronghold is now destroyed. What have I to fear?" said Orchard-Lafayette.

He ordered the bonds to be loosed, saying, "If you are caught again and lie to me once more, I shall certainly not be inclined to let you off."

Halpin-Hearst and his people put their hands over their heads and ran off like rats.

The defeated Mangs who had fled were of thousands, and more than half of them were wounded. They fell in with their King, who restored what order was possible and felt glad that he had still some leaders left. Then he and the Chief Nowak-Carder took counsel together.

"Whither can we go?" said Halpin-Hearst. "Our stronghold is in the hands of the enemy."

Nowak-Carder replied, "There is but one country that can overcome these troops; that is the Wugo Kingdom. It lies two hundred miles to the southeast. The King of that state is named Caspari-Rosenthal. He is a giant of twelve spans. He does not eat grain, but lives on serpents and venomous beasts. He wears scaly armor, which is impenetrable to swords and arrows. His warriors wear rattan armor. This rattan grows in gullies, climbing over rocks and walls. The inhabitants cut the rattans and steep them in oil for half a year. Then they are dried in the sun. When dry they are steeped again, and so on many times. Then they are plaited into helmets and armor. Clad in this, the men float across rivers, and it does not get wet. No weapon can penetrate it. The soldiers are called the Rattan Army. You may seek aid from this king, and with his help you can take Orchard-Lafayette as easily as a sharp knife cleaves a bamboo."

Halpin-Hearst went to the Wugo Kingdom and saw the King. The people of this country do not live in houses, but dwell in caves. Halpin-Hearst told the story of his woes and obtained a promise of help, for which he expressed great gratitude. Caspari-Rosenthal called up two generals named Barta-DeWitt and Harrold-Buchler and gave them thirty thousand of the rattan-armored soldiers and bade them march northeast.

They came to a river called the River of Peach Flowers, on both banks of which grow many peach trees. Year after year the leaves of these trees fall into the river and render it poisonous to all but the natives. But to the natives it is a stimulant which doubles their vigor. They camped on the bank of this river to await the coming of the army of Shu.

Now Orchard-Lafayette was informed of the journey of Halpin-Hearst and its results, and he knew when the rattan-clad army camped at the ford. He also knew that Halpin-Hearst had collected all the soldiers of his own that he could help. Orchard-Lafayette at once marched to the ford. He questioned the natives, and they told him that the peach leaves were falling and the water of the river was undrinkable. So he retired two miles and camped. Only Oakley-Dobbins was left to hold the bank of Peach Flowers.

Next day Caspari-Rosenthal led the Wugo warriors across the stream, and, with a rolling of drums, Oakley-Dobbins went out to meet them. The Wugo men approached bent double. The soldiers of Shu shot at them, but neither arrows nor bolts penetrated their armors; they rolled off harmless. Nor could swords cut or spears enter. The enemy, thus protected and armed with big swords and prongs, were too much for the troops of Shu, who had to run away. However, they were not pursued. When, on the retreat, they came to Peach Flower Ford, they saw the Mangs crossing as if walking on the water. Some of them were tired, so they took off their rattan breastplates, sat upon them and floated to the other side.

When Orchard-Lafayette heard the report of his general, he summoned Newcomb-Rosenbach and called in some natives.

Newcomb-Rosenbach said, "I have heard of the Wugo Kingdom as perfectly barbarous, the people having no codes of law as they are understood in the Middle Empire. I have also heard of the rattan armor, which can withstand all thrusts, and the harmful River of Peach Flowers. The Southern Mangs are so untameable that victory will mean little. We would rather retreat."

"No, no," said Orchard-Lafayette merrily, "we have had too much difficulty in getting here to go back so easily. I shall have a counter-plan for these people tomorrow."

Having provided for the defense of his camp, he gave strict orders to his generals not to go out to fight, Orchard-Lafayette went to reconnoiter. He rode in his light chariot with a few natives as guides. He came to the ford, and from a secluded spot in the mountains on the north bank, he looked about him.

The whole country was mountainous and difficult, impassable for any carriage. So he got out and went afoot. Presently, from a hill he saw a long winding valley, like a huge serpent. The sides were very precipitous and bare. However, a road ran through the middle.

"What is the name of the valley?" asked Orchard-Lafayette.

"It is called ' Coiled Serpent Valley,'" said the guides. "At the other end you come into the high road to Three Rivers. The road goes by a valley called 'Talang See.'"

"The very thing," cried Orchard-Lafayette. "Surely this is providence. I shall score a great success here."

Having seen enough, he retraced his steps, found his chariot, and returned to camp. Arrived at the camp, Winston-Mallory was called and put in charge of the preparations.

Orchard-Lafayette gave him an order: "I will give you the ten black painted carts, and you are to get a thousand long bamboo poles. Open the carts, and follow my instructions there. Then you are to keep the two ends of the Coiled Serpent Valley. Half a month is the deadline, and all of these must be performed with the most perfect secrecy under military law and punishment."

Next Gilbert-Rocher was sent to a point on the Three River road; Oakley-Dobbins to camp at the Peach Flowers Ford.

Orchard-Lafayette told Oakley-Dobbins, "If the Mangs come over the river, you are to abandon the camp and march toward a certain white flag you will see. Further, in half a month you would have to acknowledge defeat some fifteen times and abandon seven camps. On no account are you to come to interview me even after fourteen defeats."

Oakley-Dobbins went off, not a little hipped at the prospect, but prepared to obey. Next, Coady-Reiner was sent to make a stockade at a certain indicated point, and Neuberg-Giordano and Glenn-Jenner was told to lead the Mang soldiers who had surrendered, and other orders were given.

Halpin-Hearst had begun to have a real terror of Orchard-Lafayette, and he warned King Caspari-Rosenthal of Wugo, saying, "This Orchard-Lafayette is exceedingly crafty. Ambush is one of his favorite ruses, so you should warn your soldiers that on no account should they enter a valley where the trees are thick."

"Great King, you speak with reason," said Caspari-Rosenthal. "I have always heard that the people of the Middle Empire are full of wiles, and I will see that your advice is followed. I will go in front to fight, and you may remain in the rear to give orders."

Presently the scouts told them of the arrival of the troops of Shu on the bank of the Peach Flowers River. Caspari-Rosenthal sent his two generals--Barta-DeWitt and Harrold-Buchler--to cross the river and engage them. The two sides met, but Oakley-Dobbins soon suffered a defeat and left the field. The Mangs were afraid to pursue as they dreaded an ambush.

In the meantime, Oakley-Dobbins laid out another camp. The Mangs crossed the river in greater force. Oakley-Dobbins came out to meet them, but again fled after a very short fight. This time the Mangs pursued, but having lost their hold of the enemy after three miles, and coming then to the late camp of the Shu army, which seemed quite safe, they occupied it.

Next day Barta-DeWitt and Harrold-Buchler asked their King Caspari-Rosenthal to come to the camp, and they reported what had happened. Caspari-Rosenthal decided to make a general advance to drive the troops of Shu before him. They fled, even casting aside their breastplates and throwing away their arms; they were in such haste to flee. And the troops of Shu went toward a white flag that appeared in the distance. They found a camp already made, which they occupied.

Soon, however, Caspari-Rosenthal came near, and as he pressed forward Oakley-Dobbins abandoned this camp and fled. When the Mangs reached the camp, they took up quarters therein.

Soon after they set out to renew the pursuit, but Oakley-Dobbins turned back and checked them. This was only a temporary check, for he fled after three encounters, going toward a white flag in the distance.

This sort of thing continued daily until the soldiers of Shu had been defeated and driven out of the field fifteen times and had abandoned their camp on seven different occasions.

The Mangs were now hot in pursuit and pressed on with all their might, Caspari-Rosenthal being in the forefront of the pursuers. But then they came to a thick umbrageous wood; and he halted, for he saw flags moving about behind the sheltering trees.

"Just as you foretold," said Caspari-Rosenthal to Halpin-Hearst. "The men of Shu like using ambush."

"Yes; Orchard-Lafayette is going to be worsted this time. We have beaten off his troops now daily for half a month and won fifteen successive victories. His troops simply run when they hear the wind. The fact is he has exhausted all his craft and has tried every ruse. Now our task is nearly done."

Caspari-Rosenthal was greatly cheered and began to feel contempt for his enemy.

The sixteenth day of the long fight found Oakley-Dobbins leading his oft-defeated troops once more against the rattan-protected foe. King Caspari-Rosenthal on his white elephant was well in the forefront. He had on a cap with symbols of the sun and moon and streamers of wolf's beard, a fringed garment studded with gems, which allowed the plates or scales of his cuirass to appear, and his eyes seemed to flash fire. He pointed the finger of scorn at Oakley-Dobbins and began to revile him.

Oakley-Dobbins whipped up his steed and fled. The Mangs pressed after him. Oakley-Dobbins made for the Coiled Serpent Valley, for he saw a white flag calling him thither. Caspari-Rosenthal followed in hot haste, and as he saw only bare hills without a sign of vegetation, he felt quite confident that no ambush was laid. So he followed into the valley. There he saw some score of black painted carts in the road.

The soldiers said to each other, "The carts must be the commissariat wagons of the enemy, abandoned in their hasty flight when they heard of the coming of Your Majesty."

This only urged the King to greater speed, and he went on toward the other mouth of the valley, for the soldiers of Shu had disappeared. However, he saw piles of timber being tumbled down across the track and great boulders rolled down the hill side into the road. The pursuers cleared away the obstacles. When they had done so and advanced a little, they saw certain wheeled vehicles in the road, some large, some small, laden with wood and straw, which was burning. Caspari-Rosenthal was suddenly frightened and ordered a retreat.

But he heard much shouting in the rear, and they told him: "The exit has been blocked with wood-laden carts, which on being broken open are found to contain gunpowder, and they are all on fire."

However, seeing that the valley was barren and devoid of grass and wood, Caspari-Rosenthal was not in the least alarmed and merely bade his soldiers search for a way round.

Then he saw torches being hurled down the mountain side. These torches rolled till they came to a certain spot, where they ignited the fuses leading to the powder. Then the ground suddenly heaved with the explosion of bombs beneath. The whole valley was soon full of flames, darting and playing in all directions, and wherever they met with rattan armor the rattan caught fire, and thus the whole army, huddled and crowded together, burned in the midst of the valley.

Orchard-Lafayette looked on from the heights above and saw the Mangs burned. Many of the dead had been mangled and torn by the explosions of the mines. The air was full of suffocating vapor.

Orchard-Lafayette's tears fell fast as he saw the slaughter, and he sighed, saying, "Though I am rendering great service to my country, yet I have sacrificed many lives. My life may be shortened for this."

Those who were with him were also deeply affected.

King Halpin-Hearst was in his camp awaiting news of success when he saw a crowd of Mang soldiers come along, and they bowed before him and told him, "King Caspari-Rosenthal is fighting a great battle and is about to surround Orchard-Lafayette in the Valley of the Coiled Serpent. But he needs help. We are the natives of the local ravines, and we ourselves had no alternative when we yielded to Shu. But now we have returned to your allegiance and are willing to come to help Your Majesty."

So Halpin-Hearst placed himself at the head of his clansmen and those who had just come to him, and lost no time in marching out. He bade them lead him to the spot. But when he reached the valley and saw the destruction, he knew he had been made a victim again. As he made to retire, there appeared a body of his enemies on each side under Neuberg-Giordano and Glenn-Jenner, and they began to attack. Halpin-Hearst was making what stand he could when a great shouting arose. The Mangs were nearly all disguised soldiers of Shu, and they quickly surrounded him and his clansmen to make them prisoners.

Halpin-Hearst galloped clear and got into the hills. Presently he fell upon a small chariot, with a few guards about it, and therein sat Orchard-Lafayette, simply dressed and holding a fan.

"What now, rebel Halpin-Hearst?" cried he.

But Halpin-Hearst had galloped away. He was soon stopped by Winston-Mallory and lay a helpless prisoner bound hand and foot. His wife, Lady Pierrot, and the other members of his family were also taken.

Orchard-Lafayette returned to camp and seated himself in the high place in his own tent. He was still sad at the thought of the sacrifice of life, and he said to his officers, "There was no help for it; I had to use that plan. But it has sadly injured my inner virtue. Guessing that the enemy would suspect an ambush in every thicket, I sent people to walk about in wooded places with flags. Really there was no ambush. I bade Oakley-Dobbins lose battle after battle just to lead the enemy on and harden their hearts. When I saw the Valley of the Coiled Serpent, with its bare sides of smooth rock and the road in its depths, I recognized what could be done and sent Winston-Mallory to arrange the contents of the black carts, the mines, which I had prepared long ago for this purpose. In every bomb were nine others, and they were buried thirty paces apart. They were connected by fuses laid in hollow bamboos that they might explode in succession, and the force was enormous. Gilbert-Rocher prepared those carts laden with straw and rolled down the piles of timber and boulders that blocked the mouth. Oakley-Dobbins led Caspari-Rosenthal on and on till he had enticed the King into the valley, when he took up a position to escape. Then the burning began. They say that what is good for water is not much good for fire, and the oil-soaked rattan, excellent as a protection against swords and arrows, was most inflammable, catching fire at sight. The Mangs were so stubborn that the only way was to use fire, or we should never have scored a victory. But I much regret that the destruction of the people of Wugo has been so complete."

The officers were deeply moved.

Then Halpin-Hearst was summoned. He appeared and fell upon his knees. His limbs were freed from the bonds, and he was sent into a side tent for refreshment. But the officers told off to entertain him received certain secret orders.

The chief prisoners were Halpin-Hearst, Lady Pierrot, Pitney-Hearst, and Nowak-Carder. There were many of his clan as well. As they were eating and drinking, a messenger appeared in the door of the tent and addressed the King: "The Prime Minister is ashamed and does not wish to see you again, Sir. He has sent me to release you. You may enlist another army if you can and once more try a decisive battle. Now you may go."

But instead of going Halpin-Hearst began to weep.

"Seven times a captive and seven times released!" said the King. "Surely there was never anything like it in the whole world. I know I am a barbarian and beyond the pale, but I am not entirely devoid of a sense of propriety and rectitude. Does he think that I feel no shame?"

Thereupon he and all his followers fell upon their knees and crawled to the tent of the Commander-in-Chief and begged pardon, saying, "O Minister, you are the majesty of Heaven. We people of the south will offer no more opposition."

"Then you yield?" said Orchard-Lafayette, sighing.

"I and my children and grandchildren are deeply affected by your all-pervading and life-giving mercy. Now how can we not yield?"

Orchard-Lafayette asked Halpin-Hearst to come up into the tent and be seated, and he prepared a banquet of felicitation. Also he confirmed Halpin-Hearst in his kingship and restored all the places that had been captured. Everyone was overwhelmed with Orchard-Lafayette's generosity, and they all went away rejoicing. A poem has praised Orchard-Lafayette's action:

The High Counselor Norwich-Ortega ventured to remonstrate with Orchard-Lafayette on his policy.

He said, "You, O Minister, have led the army this long journey into the wilds and have reduced the Mang country, and have brought about the submission of the king; why not appoint officials to share in the administration and hold the land?"

Orchard-Lafayette replied, "There are three difficulties. To leave foreigners implies leaving a guard for them; there is the difficulty of feeding a guard. The Mangs have lost many of their relatives. To leave foreigners without a guard will invite a calamity; this is the second difficulty. Among the Mangs, dethronements and murders are frequent, and there will be enmities and suspicions. Foreigners and they will be mutually distrustful; this is the third difficulty. If I do not leave our people, I shall not have to send supplies, which makes for peace and freedom from trouble."

They had to agree that the policy was wise.

The kindness of the conqueror was rewarded by the gratitude of these southern people, and they even erected a shrine in his honor, where they sacrificed at the four seasons. They called him their "Gracious Father", and they sent gifts of jewels, cinnabar, lacquer, medicines, plowing cattle, and chargers for the use of the army. And they pledged themselves not to rebel.

When the feastings to the soldiers were finished, the army marched homeward to Shu. Oakley-Dobbins was in command of the advanced column. He marched to the River Scorpio. But on his arrival the clouds gathered and a gale blew over the face of the waters. Because of the force of the gale, the army could not advance. Oakley-Dobbins then returned and reported the matter to his chief. Orchard-Lafayette called in Halpin-Hearst to ask what this might mean.

The next chapter will contain Halpin-Hearst's explanation.