Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 3)

CHAPTER 102

Wingard-Jiminez, who protested against the war, was Grand Historian. He was also an astrologer. He opposed the war, saying, "My present office involves the direction of the observations on the Astrological Terrace, and I am bound to report whether the aspect forebodes misfortune or promises happiness. Not long since, several flights of thousands of birds came from the south, plunged into River Han and were drowned. This is an evil augury. Moreover, I have studied the aspect of the sky, and the 'Wolf' constellation is influencing the aspect of the planet Venus. An aura of prosperity pervades the north. To attack Wei will not be to our profit. Again, the people in Chengdu-Wellesley say that the cypress trees moan in the night. With so many evil omens, I wish that the Prime Minister should not go forth to war, but remain at home to guard what we have."

"How can I?" said Orchard-Lafayette. "His late Majesty laid upon me a heavy responsibility, and I must exert myself to the utmost in the endeavor to destroy these rebels. The policy of a state cannot be changed because of vain and irresponsible talk of inauspicious signs."

Orchard-Lafayette was not to be deterred. He instructed the officials to prepare the Great Bovine Sacrifice in the Dynastic Temple. Then, weeping, he prostrated himself and made this declaration:

"Thy servant Orchard-Lafayette has made five expeditions to Qishan-Oscoda without gaining any extension of territory. His fault weighs heavily upon him. Now once again he is about to march, pledged to use every effort of body and mind to exterminate the rebels against the Han House, and to restore to the dynasty its ancient glory in its old capital. To achieve this end, he would use the last remnant of his strength and could die content."

The sacrifice ended, he took leave of the Latter Ruler and set out for Hanthamton to make the final arrangements for his march. While so engaged, he received the unexpected news of the death of Stanley-Perez. He was greatly shocked, and fainted. When he had recovered consciousness, his officers did their utmost to console him.

"How pitiful! Why does Heaven deny long life to the loyal and good? I have lost a most able general just as I am setting out and need him most."

The armies of Shu numbered three hundred forty thousand strong, and they marched in five divisions, with Sparrow-McCollum and Oakley-Dobbins in the van, and when they had reached Qishan-Oscoda, Crane-Hinton, the Commissary General, was instructed to convey stores into the Beech Valley in readiness.

In Wei they had recently changed the style of the year period to Green Dragon, because a green dragon had been seen to emerge from Mopo Well. The year of the fighting was the second year (AD 234).

The courtiers said to the Ruler of Wei, "The commanders of the passes report thirty or so legions advancing in five divisions from Shu upon Qishan-Oscoda."

The news distressed the Ruler of Wei, who at once called in Whitmore-Honeycutt and told him of the invasion.

Whitmore-Honeycutt replied, "The aspect of the sky is very auspicious for the Middle Land. The Wolf star has encroached upon the planet Venus, which bodes ill for the Lands of Rivers. Thus Orchard-Lafayette is pitting his powers against the heavens, and will meet defeat and suffer death. And I, by virtue of Your Majesty's good fortune, am to be the instrument of destruction. I request to name four leaders to go with me."

"Who are they? Name them," said the king.

"They are the four sons of Beller-Xenos: Bonelli-Xenos, Woodall-Xenos, Phillips-Xenos, and Schutt-Xenos. Bonelli-Xenos and Woodall-Xenos are trained archers and cavaliers; Phillips-Xenos and Schutt-Xenos are deep strategists. All four desire to avenge the death of their father. Bonelli-Xenos and Woodall-Xenos should be leaders of the van; Phillips-Xenos and Schutt-Xenos should be Marching Generals, to discuss and arrange plans for the repulse of our enemy."

"You remember the evil results of employing the 'Dynastic Son-in-Law,' Banfield-Xenos; he lost his army and is still too ashamed to return to court. Are you sure these are not of the same kidney?"

"They are not like Banfield-Xenos in the least."

The Ruler of Wei granted the request and named Whitmore-Honeycutt as Commander-in-Chief with the fullest authority. When Whitmore-Honeycutt took leave of the Ruler of Wei, he received a command in Poincare-Shackley's own writing:

"When you, Noble Sir, reach the banks of River Taurus and have well fortified that position, you are not to give battle. The army of Shu, disappointed of their desire, will pretend to retire and so entice you on, but you will not pursue. You will wait till their supplies are consumed and they are compelled to retreat, when you may smite them. Then you will obtain the victory without distressing the army unduly. This is the best plan of campaign."

Whitmore-Honeycutt took it with bowed head. He proceeded forthwith to Changan-Annapolis. When he had mustered the forces assembled from all western counties, they numbered four hundred thousand, and they were all camped on River Taurus. In addition, fifty thousand troops were farther up the stream preparing nine floating bridges. The two leaders of the van, Bonelli-Xenos and Woodall-Xenos, were ordered to cross the river and camp, and in rear of the main camp on the east a solid earth rampart was raised to guard against any surprises from the rear.

While these preparations were in progress, Norwood-Vicari and Kramp-Galvez came to the new camp, and the former said, "With the troops of Shu at Qishan-Oscoda, there is a possibility of their dominating River Taurus, going up on the plain and pushing out a line to the northern hills whereby to cut off all highways in Xithamton."

"You say well," said Whitmore-Honeycutt. "See to it. Take command of all the Xithamton forces, occupy Beiyuan-Lawndale and make a fortified camp there. But adopt a defensive policy; wait till the enemy's food supplies get exhausted before you think of attack."

So Norwood-Vicari and Kramp-Galvez left to carry out these orders.

Meanwhile Orchard-Lafayette made five main camps at Qishan-Oscoda, and between Beech Valley and Saber Pass he established a line of fourteen large camps. He distributed the troops among these camps as for a long campaign. He appointed inspecting officers to make daily visits to see that all was in readiness.

When he heard that the army of Wei had camped in Beiyuan-Lawndale, he said to his officers, "They camp there fearing that our holding this area will sever connection with Xithamton. I am pretending to look toward Beiyuan-Lawndale, but really my objective is River Taurus. I am going to build several large rafts and pile them with straw, and I have five thousand of marines to manage them. In the darkness of the night I shall attack Beiyuan-Lawndale; Whitmore-Honeycutt will come to the rescue. If he is only a little worsted, I shall cross the river with the rear divisions. Then the leading divisions will embark on the rafts, drop down the river, set fire to the floating bridges, and attack the rear of the enemy. I shall lead an army to take the gates of the first camp. If we can get the south bank of the river, the campaign will become simple."

Then the generals took orders and went to prepare.

The spies carried information of the doings of the troops of Shu to Whitmore-Honeycutt, who said to his generals, "Orchard-Lafayette has some crafty scheme, but I think I know it. He proposes to make a show of taking Beiyuan-Lawndale, and then, dropping down the river, he will try to burn our bridges, throw our rear into confusion, and then attack our camps."

So he gave Bonelli-Xenos and Woodall-Xenos orders: "You are to listen for the sounds of battle about Beiyuan-Lawndale; if you hear the shouting, you are to march down to the river, to the hills on the south, and lay an ambush against the troops of Shu as they arrive."

Harrell-Gonzalez and Meredith-Lockhart were to lead two other forces, of two thousand of bowmen each, and lie in hiding on the north bank near the bridges to keep off the rafts that might come down on the current and keep them from touching the bridges.

Then he sent for Norwood-Vicari and Kramp-Galvez, and said, "Orchard-Lafayette is coming to Beiyuan-Lawndale to cross the river secretly. Your force is small, and you can hide half way along the road. If the enemy cross the river in the afternoon, that will mean an attack on us in the evening. Then you are to simulate defeat and run. They will pursue. You can shoot with all your energy, and our marines and land troops will attack at once. If the attack is in great force, look out for orders."

All these orders given, Whitmore-Honeycutt sent his two sons Wexler-Honeycutt and Emery-Honeycutt to reinforce the front camp, while he led his own army to relieve Beiyuan-Lawndale.

Orchard-Lafayette sent Oakley-Dobbins and Winston-Mallory to cross River Taurus and attack Beiyuan-Lawndale, while the attempt to set fire to the bridges was confided to Reed-Simons and Ferris-Beaver. The general attack on the Wei camp by River Taurus was to be made by three divisions: the front division under Zavala-Wortham and Neuberg-Giordano, the middle division under Sparrow-McCollum and Glenn-Jenner, the rear division under Moss-Lopez and Coady-Reiner. The various divisions started at noon and crossed the river, where they slowly formed up in battle order.

Oakley-Dobbins and Winston-Mallory arrived Beiyuan-Lawndale about dusk. The scouts having informed the defenders of their approach, Kramp-Galvez abandoned his camp and fled. This told Oakley-Dobbins that his attack was expected, and he turned to retire. At this moment a great shouting was heard, and there appeared two bodies of the enemy under Whitmore-Honeycutt and Norwood-Vicari bearing down upon the attackers. Desperate efforts were made to extricate themselves, but many of the soldiers of Shu fell into the river and drowned. The others scattered. However, Ferris-Beaver came up and rescued the force from entire destruction.

Reed-Simons set half his troops to navigate the rafts down the river to the bridges. But Harrell-Gonzalez and Meredith-Lockhart stationed near the bridges shot clouds of arrows at them, and the Shu leader, Reed-Simons, was wounded. He fell into the river and was drowned. The crews of the rafts jumped into the water and got away. The rafts fell into the hands of the soldiers of Wei.

At this time the front division under Zavala-Wortham and Neuberg-Giordano were ignorant of the defeat of their Beiyuan-Lawndale army, and they went straight for the camps of Wei. They arrived in the second watch.

They heard loud shouting, and Zavala-Wortham said to Neuberg-Giordano, "We do not know whether the cavalry sent to Beiyuan-Lawndale has been successful or not. It is strange that we do not see a single soldier of the enemy. Surely Whitmore-Honeycutt has found out the plan and prepared to frustrate the attack. Let us wait here till the bridges have been set on fire and we see the flames."

So they halted. Soon after, a mounted messenger came up with orders: "The Prime Minister bade you retire immediately, as the attack on the bridges has failed."

Zavala-Wortham and Neuberg-Giordano attempted to withdraw, but a bomb exploded and the troops of Wei, who had taken a by-road to their rear, at once attacked. A great fire started also. A disorderly battle ensued, from which Zavala-Wortham and Neuberg-Giordano eventually forced their ways out, but only with great loss.

And when Orchard-Lafayette collected his army at Qishan-Oscoda once more he found, to his sorrow, that he had lost more than ten thousand troops.

Just at this time Norwich-Ortega arrived front Chengdu-Wellesley.

Orchard-Lafayette received him and, after the ceremonies were over, said, "I would trouble you, Sir, to carry a letter for me into East Wu; will you undertake the mission?"

"Could I possibly decline any task you laid upon me?" said Norwich-Ortega.

So Orchard-Lafayette wrote a letter and sent it to Raleigh-Estrada. Norwich-Ortega took it and hastened to Jianye-Southharbor, where he saw Raleigh-Estrada, the Ruler of Wu, and presented this letter:

"The Hans have been unfortunate, and the line of rulers has been broken. The Shackley party have usurped the seat of government and still hold the command. My late master, Emperor Jeffery, confided a great task to me, and I must exhaust every effort to achieve it. Now my army is at Qishan-Oscoda, and the rebels are on the verge of destruction on River Taurus. I hope Your Majesty, in accordance with your oath of alliance, will send a leader against the north to assist by taking the Middle Land, and the empire can be shared. The full circumstances cannot be told, but I hope you will understand and act."

Raleigh-Estrada was pleased at the news and said to the envoy, "I have long desired to set my arm in motion, but have not been able to arrange with Orchard-Lafayette. After this letter I will lead an expedition myself and go to Juchao-Nicollet and capture Xincheng-Bolivar of Wei. Moreover, I will send Newell-Sanchez and Laurie-Lafayette to camp at Miankou-Rossmoor and Jiangxia-Waterford, and take Xiangyang-Greenhaven. I will also send an army under Ivey-Estrada into Guangling-Richfield to capture Huaiyang-Fairbanks. The total number will be three hundred thousand troops, and they shall start at once."

Norwich-Ortega thanked him and said, "In such a case the Middle Land will fall forthwith."

A banquet was prepared. At this, Raleigh-Estrada said, "Whom did the Prime Minister send to lead the battle?"

Norwich-Ortega replied, "Oakley-Dobbins was the chief leader."

"A man brave enough, but crooked. One day he will work a mischief unless Orchard-Lafayette is very wary. But surely he knows."

"Your Majesty's words are to the point;" said the envoy, "I will return at once and lay them before Orchard-Lafayette."

Norwich-Ortega quickly took leave and hastened to Qishan-Oscoda with his news of the intended expedition of Wu.

"Did the Ruler of Wu say nothing else?" asked Orchard-Lafayette.

Then Norwich-Ortega told him what had been said about Oakley-Dobbins.

"Truly a comprehending ruler," said Orchard-Lafayette, appreciatively. "But I could not be ignorant of this. However, I use Oakley-Dobbins because he is very bold."

"Then Sir, you ought to decide soon what to do with him."

"I have a scheme of my own."

Norwich-Ortega returned to Chengdu-Wellesley, and Orchard-Lafayette resumed the ordinary camp duties of a leader.

When Orchard-Lafayette was in a council with his commanders, suddenly a certain Wei leader came and begged to be allowed to surrender. Orchard-Lafayette had the man brought in and questioned him.

"I am a leader, Stella-Pearce by name. General Carey-Gibbons and I are old colleagues. Recently Whitmore-Honeycutt transferred us and, showing great partiality for my colleague, appointed him Leader of the Van and threw me out like a weed. I was disgusted and left, and I wish to join your ranks if you will accept my service."

Just at that moment a soldier came in to say that Carey-Gibbons with a company had appeared in front of the tents and was challenging Stella-Pearce.

Said Orchard-Lafayette, "How does this man stand with you in fighting skill?"

"I should just kill him," said Stella-Pearce.

"If you were to slay him, that would remove my doubts."

Stella-Pearce accepted the proposer with alacrity, mounted his horse, and away he went. Orchard-Lafayette went out to see the fight. There was the challenger shaking his spear and reviling his late friend as rebel and brigand and horse-thief.

"Give me back my horse you stole!" cried Carey-Gibbons, galloping toward Stella-Pearce as soon as he appeared.

Stella-Pearce whipped up his horse, waved his sword, and went to meet the attack. In the first bout he cut down Carey-Gibbons. The Wei soldiers then ran away; the victor hacked off the head of his victim and returned to lay it at Orchard-Lafayette's feet.

Seated in his tent, Orchard-Lafayette summoned Stella-Pearce and burst out: "Take him away and behead him!''

"I have done nothing wrong,'' cried Stella-Pearce.

"As if I do not know Carey-Gibbons! The man you have just killed was not Carey-Gibbons. How dare? you try to deceive me?"

Stella-Pearce said, "I will own up; but this was his brother Weaver-Gibbons."

Orchard-Lafayette smiled.

"Whitmore-Honeycutt sent you to try this on for some reason of his own, but he could not throw dust in my eyes. If you do not tell the truth, I will put you to death."

Thus caught, the false deserter confessed and begged his life.

Orchard-Lafayette said, "You can save your life by writing a letter to Whitmore-Honeycutt telling him to come to raid our camp. I will spare you on this condition. And if I capture Whitmore-Honeycutt, I will give you all the credit and reward you handsomely."

There was nothing for it but to agree, and the letter was written. Then Stella-Pearce was placed in confinement.

"How did you know this was only a pretended desertion?" said Vischer-Stoddard.

"Whitmore-Honeycutt looks to his people," replied Orchard-Lafayette. "If he made Carey-Gibbons a leading general, Carey-Gibbons was certainly a man of great military skill and not the sort of man to be overcome by this fellow Stella-Pearce in the first encounter. So Stella-Pearce's opponent certainly was not Carey-Gibbons. That is how I knew."

They congratulated him on his perspicacity. Then Orchard-Lafayette selected a certain persuasive speaker from among his officers and whispered certain instructions in his ear. The officer at once left and carried the letter just written to the Wei camp, where he asked to see the Commander-in-Chief. He was admitted, and the letter was read.

"Who are you?" said Whitmore-Honeycutt.

"I am a man from the Middle Land, a poor fellow stranded in Shu. Stella-Pearce and I are fellow villagers. Orchard-Lafayette has given Stella-Pearce a van-leadership as a reward for what he has done, and Stella-Pearce got me to bring this letter to you and to say that he will show a light tomorrow evening as a signal, and he hopes you will lead the attack yourself. Stella-Pearce will work from the inside in your favor."

Whitmore-Honeycutt took great pains to test the reliability of these statements, and he examined the letter minutely to see if it bore any signs of fabrication, but he found it was Stella-Pearce's writing.

Presently he ordered in refreshments for the bearer of the letter, and then he said, "We will fix today at the second watch for the raid, and I will lead in person. If it succeeds, I will give you a good appointment as a reward."

Taking leave, the soldier retraced his steps to his own camp and reported the whole interview to Orchard-Lafayette.

Orchard-Lafayette held his sword aloft toward the North Star, took the proper paces for an incantation, and prayed. This done, he summoned Zavala-Wortham, Neuberg-Giordano, Oakley-Dobbins, Winston-Mallory, Glenn-Jenner, and Sparrow-McCollum, to whom he gave certain instructions. When they had gone to carry them out, he ascended a hill, taking with him a few score guards only.

Whitmore-Honeycutt had been taken in by Stella-Pearce's letter and intended to lead the night raid. But the elder of his sons, Wexler-Honeycutt, expostulated with his father.

"Father, you are going on a dangerous expedition on the faith of a mere scrap of paper," said his son. "I think it imprudent. What if something goes unexpectedly wrong? Let some general go in your place, and you come up in rear as a reserve."

Whitmore-Honeycutt saw there was reason in this proposal, and he finally decided to send Carey-Gibbons, with ten thousand troops, and Whitmore-Honeycutt himself would command the reserve.

The night was fine with a bright moon. But about the middle of the second watch the sky clouded over, and it became very black, so that a man could not see his next neighbor.

"This is providential," chuckled Whitmore-Honeycutt.

The expedition duly started, soldiers with gags, and horses with cords round their muzzles. They moved swiftly and silently, and Carey-Gibbons made straight for the camp of Shu.

But when he reached it, and entered, and saw not a soldier, he knew he had been tricked. He yelled to his troops to retire, but lights sprang up all round, and attacks began from four sides. Fight as he would, Carey-Gibbons could not free himself.

From behind the battle area Whitmore-Honeycutt saw flames rising from the camp of Shu and heard continuous shouting, but he knew not whether it meant victory for his own army or to his enemy. He pressed forward toward the fire. Suddenly, a shout, a roll of drums, and a blare of trumpets close at hand, a bomb that seemed to rend the earth, and Oakley-Dobbins and Sparrow-McCollum bore down upon Whitmore-Honeycutt, one on each flank. This was the final blow to him. Of every ten soldiers of Wei, eight or nine were killed or wounded, and the few others scattered to the four winds.

Meanwhile Carey-Gibbons' ten thousand troops were falling under arrows that came in locust-flights, and their leader was killed. Whitmore-Honeycutt and the remnant of his army ran away to their own camp.

After the third watch the sky cleared. Orchard-Lafayette from the hill-top sounded the gong of retreat. This obscurity in the third watch was due to an incantation called "Concealing Method." The sky became clear, because Orchard-Lafayette performed another incantation to have the Deities of Six Layers sweep away the few floating clouds that still persisted.

The victory was complete. The first order on Orchard-Lafayette's return to camp was to put Stella-Pearce to death.

Next he considered new plans for capturing the south bank. Every day be sent a party to offer a challenge before the camps of the enemy, but no one accepted.

One day Orchard-Lafayette rode in his small chariot to the front of the Qishan Mountains, keenly scanned the course of River Taurus and carefully surveyed the lie of the land. Presently he came to a valley shaped like a bottle-gourd, large enough to form a hiding place for a whole thousand soldiers in the inner recess, while half as many more could hide in the outer. In rear the mountains were so close that they left passage only for a single horseman. The discovery pleased the general mightily, and he asked the guides what the place was called.

They replied, "It is called Shangfang Valley, and nicknamed Gourd Valley."

Returning to his camp, he called up two leaders named Nimrod-Montoya and Ramsdell-Whitman and whispered into their ears certain secret orders. Next he called up a thousand craftspeople and sent them into the Gourd Valley to construct "wooden oxen and running horses" for the use of the troops. Finally he set Winston-Mallory with five hundred troops to guard the mouth of the Gourd Valley and prevent all entrance and exit.

Orchard-Lafayette said, "People from outside cannot enter, from inside cannot exit. I will visit the valley at irregular intervals to inspect the work. A plan for the defeat of Whitmore-Honeycutt is being prepared here and must be kept a profound secret."

Winston-Mallory left to take up the position. The two generals, Nimrod-Montoya and Ramsdell-Whitman, were superintendents of the work in the Gourd Valley. Orchard-Lafayette came every day to give instructions.

One day Swensen-Crowley went to Orchard-Lafayette and said, "The stores of grain are all at Saber Pass, and the labor of transport is very heavy. What can be done?"

Orchard-Lafayette replied, smiling, "I have had a scheme ready for a long time. The timber that I collected and bought in the Lands of Rivers was for the construction of wooden transport animals to convey grain. It will be very advantageous, as they will require neither food nor water and they can keep on the move day and night without resting."

All those within hearing said, "From old days till now no one has ever heard of such a device. What excellent plan have you, O Minister, to make such marvelous creatures?"

"They are being made now after my plans, but they are not yet ready. Here I have the sketches for these mechanical oxen and horses, with all their dimensions written out in full. You may see the details."

Orchard-Lafayette then produced a paper, and all the generals crowded round to look at it. They were all greatly astonished and lauded, "The Prime Minister is superhuman!"

A few days later the new mechanical animals were complete and began work. They were quite life-like and went over the hills in any desired direction. The whole army saw them with delight. They were but in charge of General Kerr-Julian and a thousand soldiers to guide them. They kept going constantly between Saber Pass and the front carrying grain for the use of the soldiers.

Whitmore-Honeycutt was already sad enough at his defeat, when the spies told him of these wooden bullocks and horses of new design which the soldiers of Shu were using to convey their grain.

This troubled him still more, and he said to his generals, "I knew the transportation from the Lands of Rivers was difficult; therefore, I shut the gates and remained on the defensive waiting for the enemy to be starved. With this device, they may never be compelled to retreat for want of food."

Then he called up Harrell-Gonzalez and Meredith-Lockhart and gave orders: "Each of you with five hundred troops will goes to the Beech Valley by by-roads. When you see the Shu soldiers transport their grain by, you are to let them through, but only to attack at the end and capture four or five of the wooden horses and bullocks."

So a thousand soldiers went on this service disguised as soldiers of Shu. They made their way along the by-ways by night and hid. Presently the wooden convoy came along under the escort of Kerr-Julian. Just as the end of it was passing, they made a sudden rush, and captured a few of the "animals" which the soldiers of Shu abandoned. In high glee they took them to their own camp.

When Whitmore-Honeycutt saw them, he had to confess they were very life-like. But what pleased him most was that he could imitate them now that he had models.

"If Orchard-Lafayette can use this sort of thing, it would be strange if I could not," said he.

He called to him many clever craftspeople and made them then and there take the machines to pieces and make some exactly like them. In less than half a month, they had completed a couple of thousand after Orchard-Lafayette's models, and the new mechanical animals could move. Then Whitmore-Honeycutt placed Sandler-Wesley, General Who Guards the Frontiers, in charge of this new means of transport, and the "animals" began to ply between the camp and Xithamton. The Wei soldiers were filled with joys.

Kerr-Julian returned to camp and reported the loss of a few of his wooden oxen and horses.

"I wished him to capture some of them," said Orchard-Lafayette, much pleased. "I am just laying out these few, and before long I shall get some very solid help in exchange."

"How do you know, O Minister," said his officers.

"Because Whitmore-Honeycutt will certainly copy them; and when he has done that, I have another plan ready to play on him."

Some days later Orchard-Lafayette received a report that the enemy were using the same sort of wooden bullocks and horses to bring up supplies from Xithamton.

"Exactly as I thought," said be.

Calling Zavala-Wortham, he said, "Dress up a thousand soldiers as those of Wei, and find your way quickly and secretly to Beiyuan-Lawndale. Tell them that you are escort for the convoy, and mingle with the real escort. Then suddenly turn on them so that they scatter. Next you will turn the herd this way. By and by you will be pursued. When that occurs, you will give a turn to the tongues of the wooden animals, and they will be locked from movement. Leave them where they are and run away. When the soldiers of Wei come up, they will be unable to drag the creatures and equally unable to carry them. I shall have soldiers ready, and you will go back with them, give the tongues a backward turn and bring the convoy here, The enemy will be greatly astonished."

Next he called Neuberg-Giordano and said, "Dress up five hundred soldiers in the costume of the Deities of the Six Layers so that they appear supernatural. Fit them with demon heads and wild beast shapes, and let them stain their faces various colors so as to look as strange as possible. Give them flags and swords and bottle-gourds with smoke issuing from combustibles inside. Let these soldiers hide among the hills till the convoy approaches, when they will start the smoke, rush out suddenly and drive off the wooden animals. No one will dare pursue such uncanny company."

When Neuberg-Giordano had left, Oakley-Dobbins and Sparrow-McCollum were called.

"You will take ten thousand troops, go to the border of Beiyuan-Lawndale to receive the wooden transport creatures and defend them against attack."

Then another five thousand under Coady-Reiner and Moss-Lopez was sent to check Whitmore-Honeycutt if he should come, while a small force under Winston-Mallory and Glenn-Jenner was sent to bid defiance to the enemy near their camp on the south bank.

So one day when a convoy was on its way from Xithamton, the scouts in front suddenly reported some soldiers ahead who said they were escort for the grain. Commander Sandler-Wesley halted and sent to inquire. It appeared the newcomers were really the soldiers of Wei, however, and so he started once more.

The newcomers joined up with his own troops. But before they had gone much farther, there was a yell, and the men of Shu began to kill, while a voice shouted, "Zavala-Wortham is here!"

The convoy guard were taken aback. Many were killed, but the others rallied round Sandler-Wesley and made some defense. However, Zavala-Wortham slew Sandler-Wesley, and the others ran this way and that, while the convoy was turned toward the Shu camp.

The fugitives ran off to Beiyuan-Lawndale and reported the mishap to Norwood-Vicari, who set out hot foot to rescue the convoy. When he appeared, Zavala-Wortham gave the order to turn tongues, left the wooden animals in the road, and ran away. Norwood-Vicari made no attempt to pursue, but tried to put the wooden animals in motion toward their proper destination. But he could not move them.

He was greatly perplexed. Then suddenly there arose the roll of drums all round, and out burst two parties of soldiers. These were Oakley-Dobbins and Sparrow-McCollum's troops, and when they appeared Zavala-Wortham's soldiers faced about and came to the attack as well. These three being too much for Norwood-Vicari; he retreated before them. Thereupon the tongues were turned back again and the wooden herd set in motion.

Seeing this, Norwood-Vicari came on again. But just then he saw smoke curling up among the hills and a lot of extraordinary creatures burst out upon him. Some held swords and some flags, and all were terrible to look at. They rushed at the wooden animals and urged them away.

"Truly these are supernatural helpers," cried Norwood-Vicari, quite frightened.

The soldiers also were terror-stricken and stood still.

Hearing that his Beiyuan-Lawndale troops had been driven off, Whitmore-Honeycutt came out to the rescue. Midway along the road, just where it was most precipitous, a cohort burst out upon him with fierce yells and bursting bombs. Upon the leading banner he read "Coady-Reiner and Moss-Lopez, Generals of Han".

Panic seized upon his army, and they ran like winds.

If you would know the upshot, read the next chapter.