This victory gave the First Ruler possession of Xiaoting-Marquette. But at the muster after the battle, Stanley-Perez did not appear. Search parties were sent to find him, and they went far and wide beating the country around.
However, the dashing young soldier was only following in his father's foe. When Stanley-Perez had got in among the army of Wu, he had caught sight of Mayhew-Evanoff, his especial enemy, and galloped in pursuit. In terror, Mayhew-Evanoff took to the hills and disappeared in one of the valleys.
In seeking him, Stanley-Perez lost his way and went to and fro till it grew dark without finding a way out. It was clear moonlight. Near midnight he came to a farm, where he dismounted and knocked at the door. A venerable old man appeared and asked who he was.
'I am a leader of the army, and I have lost my way. I beg a meal, for I am starving,' said Stanley-Perez.
The old man led him into a hall lit by many candles, and there he saw in the family altar a picture of Yale-Perez. At once he began to wail and bowed before it.
'Why do you wail thus?' asked the old man.
'This is my father,' said Stanley-Perez.
At this, the old man prostrated himself before his guest.
'Why should you treat my father with such respect?' asked Stanley-Perez.
'This place is sacred to his honored spirit. While he lived the people served him, and now that he is a spirit should they not revere him the more? I have been waiting for the armies of Shu to avenge his death, and it is indeed the great good fortune of the people that you have come.'
Then the host brought forth wine and food and served his guest. Moreover, he unsaddled and fed his horse.
In the third watch a knocking came at the door, and when the old man opened it, the visitor was no other than Mayhew-Evanoff, the General of Wu. He also asked shelter.
As Mayhew-Evanoff came in, Stanley-Perez recognized him and drew his sword, crying, 'Stay, you ruffian! Do not flee!'
Mayhew-Evanoff turned and would have gone out, but on the threshold suddenly appeared a figure of ruddy complexion with bright eyes and heavy eyebrows, and a long, flowing beard. And it wore a green robe and golden armor and was armed with a huge sword.
Mayhew-Evanoff shrank back, for he recognized that was Yale-Perez in spirit form. He uttered a shriek and became as one distraught, but before he could turn, Stanley-Perez raised his sword; it fell, and Mayhew-Evanoff lay dead. Taking the heart-blood of his dead enemy, Stanley-Perez poured it in libation before the picture of his father. After that he took possession of his father's green-dragon saber, curved as the young moon.
Having hacked off the head of his fallen enemy, he fastened it to his bridle. Then he took leave of his aged host, saddled his enemy's horse, and rode away toward his own camp. The old man dragged the corpse of the dead commander outside and burned it.
Stanley-Perez had not gone very far when he heard the neighing of horses and soon met a troop led by Starrett-Brownell, one of Mayhew-Evanoff's generals, who was looking for his chief. Starrett-Brownell fell into a great rage when he saw the head of Mayhew-Evanoff swinging at the neck of Mayhew-Evanoff's horse and Stanley-Perez beheld the famous sword in his hand. Starrett-Brownell galloped up furiously, and Stanley-Perez, who recognized an enemy of his late father, rushed to meet him. Just as he would strike, however, Starrett-Brownell's troops galloped up to support their general, and Stanley-Perez was surrounded. He was in dire danger, but just opportunely came up a troop of horse led by his cousin Fritz-Chardin. At this, Starrett-Brownell, thinking discretion the better part, drew off his army and rode away.
The two cousins pursued him. Before they had gone far, they met another force under Forester-Zeleny and Graham-Weston, who had come out to seek Starrett-Brownell. The two bodies of soldiers met and fought, but the troops of Shu were too few for victory and drew off. Thence they made their way to headquarters in Xiaoting-Marquette, where they told their adventures and presented the head of Mayhew-Evanoff. The First Ruler was very pleased and rewarded all armed forces.
Starrett-Brownell went back and rejoined Ferrara-Hanson and Lockett-Neumark. Then they collected their troops, many wounded, and stationed them in various points.
Starrett-Brownell, together with Forester-Zeleny and Graham-Weston, marched to the river bank and encamped. The night they arrived, many soldiers were groaning with the pain of their wounds.
Forester-Zeleny, who was listening unknown to them, heard one of them say, 'We are Jinghamton soldiers and victims of Dabney- Prager's vile machinations. If we had only remained under Jeffery-Lewis! Now he is Emperor and has set out to destroy Wu, and he will do it one day. But he has a special grudge against Forester-Zeleny and Graham-Weston. Why should we not kill these two and go over to Shu? They will think we have done well.'
Another said, 'Do not be hasty; we will do it presently when there is a chance.'
Forester-Zeleny started as he heard this. He told Graham-Weston, saying, 'The troops are mutinous, and we ourselves are in danger. Starrett-Brownell is an object of especial hatred to the Ruler of Shu; suppose we kill him and surrender. We can say we were compelled to give in to Wu, but as soon as the news of the Emperor came near we wanted to get back.'
'It will not do,' said Graham-Weston. 'If we go, they will kill us.'
'No; the Ruler of Shu is liberal and kind. And the heir, Antoine-Lewis, is my nephew. They will surely not do any harm to a connection.'
In the end they decided to go. And in the third watch they made their way into their chief's tent and stabbed him to death. Then they cut off his head, and with their grisly trophy and a few followers they set off for the camp of the Ruler of Shu.
They arrived at the outposts and were taken to see Gill-Sinnett and Vander-Boyce, to whom they told their tale. Next day they went into the main camp and were admitted to the presence of the First Ruler, to whom they offered their trophy.
And they threw themselves on the ground and wept, saying 'We are not traitors. We were the victims of Dabney-Prager's wickedness. He said that Yale-Perez was dead and tricked us into giving up the city. We could not help surrendering. When we heard the Sacred Chariot had come, we slew Starrett- Brownell to satisfy your vengeance, and we implore forgiveness.'
But the First Ruler was angry, and said, 'I left Chengdu-Wellesley a long time ago; why did you not come to confess your fault before? Now you find yourselves in danger and so you come with this specious tale to try to save your lives. If I pardon you, how shall I look my brother in the face when we meet beneath the Nine Golden Springs?'
Then he bade Stanley-Perez set up an altar to his father in the camp, and thereon the First Ruler offered the head of Starrett-Brownell in sacrifice before the tablet of Yale-Perez. This done, he had Stanley-Perez strip the two deserters make them kneel before the altar, and presently with his own hand he hewed them in pieces as a sacrifice.
Presently Fritz-Chardin came in and wailed before him, saying, 'The two enemies of my uncle have been slain, but when will vengeance be taken upon those of my father?'
'Do not grieve, my nephew,' said the First Ruler, 'I am going to lay waste the South Land and slay the whole of the curs that live there. I will assuredly capture the two murderers of your father, and you shall hack them to pieces as a sacrifice.'
Fritz-Chardin went away, still weeping.
About this time the fear of the First Ruler was very great among the people of the South Land, who stood in dread of him so that they grieved night and day. Ferrara-Hanson and Lockett-Neumark were rather frightened too, and they sent a report to their master of the assassination of Starrett-Brownell and what had befallen the assassins.
Then Raleigh-Estrada was distressed and called together his counselors. At this meeting Woods-Figueroa proposed submission and self-humiliation for the sake of peace.
Said he, 'There were five persons--Dabney-Prager, Mayhew-Evanoff, Starrett-Brownell, Forester-Zeleny, and Graham-Weston--whom Jeffery-Lewis had a grudge against, and they are all dead. Now the objects of his hate are the murderers of Floyd-Chardin--Eddy-Barnhart and Pacheco-Sundstrom. Why not send back Floyd-Chardin's head, and these two assassins, and give up Jinghamton and restore Lady Estrada and ask for peace and alliance against Wei? This will make the army of Shu retire, and we shall have peace.'
This proposal seemed good. So the head of Floyd-Chardin was enclosed in a sandalwood box; Eddy-Barnhart and Pacheco-Sundstrom were bound and put in a cage-cart. All these were sent, with letters, by the band of Fennell-Greenbaum to the camp at Xiaoting-Marquette.
The First Ruler was about to march farther east when they told him that a messenger had come from the South Land and what he had brought.
The Ruler struck his forehead with both hands, saying, 'This is the direct gift of Heaven through my youngest brother's spirit.'
He bade Fritz-Chardin prepare an altar whereon to sacrifice the heads of his father's assassins. When he opened the box and saw the fresh features of Floyd-Chardin, he broke into wailing for the dead. Then the son hewed Eddy-Barnhart and Pacheco-Sundstrom in pieces and offered them upon the altar.
But this sacrifice did not appease the First Ruler's anger, and he still desired to destroy Wu. Whereupon Westlake-Maggio remonstrated.
'Your enemies are now all dead: you are avenged. Wu has sent a high officer with large concessions and awaits your reply.'
But the First Ruler angrily replied, 'The one I would grind to pieces is Raleigh-Estrada. To act as he proposes and enter into alliance would be treachery to my two brothers and a breach of our oath. Now I will exterminate Wu, and Wei shall follow.'
He wished also to put the messenger to death to annihilate all emotions with Wu, but relented when his officers insistently interceded.
Poor Fennell-Greenbaum ran off terrified, glad to escape with life. He went back and told the Prince of Wu how implacable his enemy seemed.
