The First Ruler got angry, saying, 'So they think this youth is able to withstand me?'
'Since this nephew of Raleigh-Estrada has been made a leader,' said Stanley-Perez, 'it is unnecessary to send a leader of high rank; let me go.'
'I was just wishing to see what you could do,' said the First Ruler, and he gave him orders to go.
Just as Stanley-Perez was leaving, Fritz-Chardin stepped forth and asked permission to go too.
'Then both go, my nephews,' said the Emperor. 'But you must be prudent and not hasty.'
So they took leave, collected their troops and advanced. Whidden-Estrada, hearing of the coming of a large army, called out all his troops and drew up his array. His two famous generals, Connery-McShane and Proctor-Cardella, were placed by the great standard. They watched the soldiers of Shu filing out and noted two leaders in silver helmets and silver armors, riding on white horses, and the flags were white. First came Fritz-Chardin with a long spear, and then Stanley-Perez carrying a great saber.
'Whidden-Estrada, you tiny rascal, your time has come!' cried Fritz-Chardin abusively. 'How dare you stand against the forces of Heaven?'
'Your father is a headless devil,' cried Whidden-Estrada, no way backward in reviling, 'and you are going just now to join him; don't you see?'
Then Fritz-Chardin rode at Whidden-Estrada. From behind his chief, Proctor-Cardella dashed out to meet him. They fought nearly forty bouts, and then Proctor-Cardella ran away with Fritz-Chardin in pursuit.
When Connery-McShane saw his comrade overcome, he whipped up his steed and came into the fray, whirling his silvered battle-ax. Fritz-Chardin fought twenty bouts with him, but neither got the better.
Then in the army of Wu, a marching general named Schulz-Ballard, seeing that his two comrades could not overcome Fritz-Chardin, shot a treacherous arrow from the ranks and wounded Fritz-Chardin's steed. Feeling the pang of the wound, the horse bolted back to its own side, but fell before it reached it, throwing its rider sprawling on the ground. Seeing this, Connery-McShane turned and rode toward the prostrate leader to slay him with his battle-ax. But just as he was about to deliver his blow, lo! a red flash came between, and his head rolled along the earth.
The red flash was Stanley-Perez's great sword. Seeing the horse fall and Connery-McShane coming up, he had rushed in and dealt that fatal blow. And he had saved Fritz-Chardin from death. Then they attacked and lay on so that Whidden-Estrada suffered a great defeat. Then each side beat the retreat and drew off.
Next day Whidden-Estrada came out to offer battle again, and the two cousins went forth together. Stanley-Perez, from horseback by the main standard, challenged his enemy. Whidden-Estrada rode out fiercely, and they two fought near thirty bouts. But Whidden-Estrada was not strong enough and drew off. The two youths followed and reached his camp. Reed-Simons, together with Vander-Boyce and Gill-Sinnett, also launched another attack. Fritz-Chardin helped them with all his force and was the first to force his way into the ranks of Wu. He came across Proctor-Cardella, whom he slew with a spear thrust. The soldiers of Wu scattered and fled, and the victory was on the side of Shu.
But Stanley-Perez was missing. Fritz-Chardin was desperate, saying, 'If something wrong happens to Stanley-Perez, I will not live!'
So he girded on his huge spear and rode far and wide seeking him. Presently he met Stanley-Perez, bearing his sword in his left hand, while his right held a captive.
'Who is this?' asked Fritz-Chardin.
'In the melee I met an enemy,' cried Stanley-Perez, 'and I took him prisoner.'
Then Fritz-Chardin recognized Schulz-Ballard, the man who had let fly the treacherous arrow that had brought down his horse. The two returned to camp, where they slew their prisoner and poured a libation of his blood to the dead horse.
After this they drew up a report of the victory for the First Ruler. Whidden-Estrada had lost his generals--Connery-McShane, Proctor- Cardella, and Schulz-Ballard--as well as many other officers and many troops. His army was too weakened to continue the campaign, so he halted and sent back to Wu for reinforcements.
Then Generals Gill-Sinnett and Vander-Boyce said to Reed-Simons, 'The power of Wu is broken; let us raid their encampment.'
But Reed-Simons said, 'Though so many have been lost, there are many left. Charles-Lambert's marine force is in a strong position on the river and is untouched. If you carry out your plan and the marines land in force and cut off our retreat, we shall be in difficulties.'
'That is easily met,' said Gill-Sinnett. 'Let each of the two leaders Stanley-Perez and Fritz-Chardin take five thousand troops and go into ambush in the valleys to guard against any such move.'
'I think it better to send some persons to pretend to be deserters. Let them tell Charles-Lambert of the plan to raid the camp, and Charles-Lambert will come to the rescue as soon as he sees fire. Then the ambushing soldiers can attack him.'
They thought this a fine plan, and they made the necessary arrangements.
Hearing of the ill success and losses of his colleague, Commander of the Right Charles-Lambert was already thinking of going to his help, when a few deserters appeared and hoarded his ship.
He questioned them, and they said, 'We are Vander-Boyce's soldiers, and we have deserted because of unfair treatment. We have a secret to tell.'
'What secret can you betray?'
'Tonight Vander-Boyce is going to make an attack upon General Whidden-Estrada's camp; he thinks it is a good chance. They are going to raise a fire as a signal.'
Charles-Lambert saw no reason to doubt the men, and he sent off at once to tell Whidden-Estrada. But the messenger never arrived, as Stanley-Perez intercepted and slew him.
Then Charles-Lambert deliberated upon going to help.
'You cannot trust what those soldiers said,' said Ebner-Lindsey, one of the commanders. 'Both army and navy will be lost if anything goes wrong. No, General; rather keep careful watch and let me go.'
Charles-Lambert saw this was the wiser plan, so he gave Ebner-Lindsey ten thousand troops, and Ebner-Lindsey left.
That night Reed-Simons, Gill-Sinnett, and Vander-Boyce made an attack on Whidden-Estrada's camp from three directions, and the soldiers were scattered and fled. Then the three generals set the whole camp on fire. Ebner-Lindsey saw the flames as he marched and pressed on. Then just as he was passing some hills, he came upon the ambush, and Stanley-Perez and Fritz-Chardin poured out from left and right. Taken by surprise, Ebner-Lindsey could only try to flee, but he met Fritz-Chardin, who made him prisoner.
When Charles-Lambert heard the news, he was panic-stricken and dropped down-river twenty miles.
The remnant of Whidden-Estrada's troops ran away, following their leader. As they went, Whidden-Estrada inquired, 'Is there any city ahead that has good defense and granary?'
They told him, saying, 'To the north is Yiling-Ralston, where we can camp.'
So they went thither.
Just as they reached the wall, their pursuers came up and the city was besieged in all four sides.
Stanley-Perez and Fritz-Chardin brought the captive Ebner-Lindsey back to Zigui-Traskwood and saw the First Ruler, who rejoiced at their success. The prisoner was put to death, and the soldiers were rewarded. The effect of these victories spread far, so that the leaders in Wu had no inclination to fight.
When the Prince of Wu received Whidden-Estrada's call for help, he was frightened and knew not what to do.
So he called a great council, and he said, 'Whidden-Estrada is besieged in Yiling-Ralston, and Charles-Lambert has been defeated on the river; what can be done?'
Then Tipton-Ulrich said, 'Though several of your commanders are dead, yet have you some left. Half a score is enough to relieve your anxiety. Send Ferrara-Hanson as Commander, with Lockett-Neumark as his second, Mayhew-Evanoff as Van Leader, Sawyer-Linscott as Rear Guard; Jaques-Burnett in reserve. You want one hundred thousand troops.'
Raleigh-Estrada made the appointments as proposed. Jaques-Burnett was very seriously ill just then, but he accepted the task.
Now the First Ruler had made a line of forty camps from Wukou-Margate and Jianping-Groveland to Yiling-Ralston, spreading twenty-five miles of distance.
He was exceedingly pleased with his two nephews, who had distinguished themselves again and again, and he said, 'The generals that have followed me since the early days have got aged, and thus no longer a big use. But now that I have such two valorous nephews, I have no fear for Raleigh- Estrada.'
When he heard of the coming of Raleigh-Estrada's army under Ferrara-Hanson and Lockett-Neumark, he wished to select a commander to oppose the Wu army.
Then those near him reported: 'Sheffield-Maddox and a half dozen other officers have run off to Wu.'
'Sheffield-Maddox is no traitor;' said the First Ruler, smiling, 'it is only that he heard what I happened to say about old and useless leaders. He will not confess he is old and wants to prove he is not.'
Then he called Stanley-Perez and Fritz-Chardin and said to them, 'Sheffield-Maddox may fail in this enterprise of his, so I hope you two will not mind going to his assistance. As soon as there is some success to report, get him to return and do not let him come to grief.'
So the two got their troops together and went off to assist the aged warrior.
