'Sow not dissension among relatives,' said Orchard-Lafayette. 'Is it possible for me to make any plan for you?'
'Then is my life indeed in danger,' said the young man. 'I will die at your feet.'
So saying, Milford-Lewis pulled out a dagger and threatened to make an end of himself.
Orchard-Lafayette checked him, saying, 'There is a way.'
'I pray you tell me.'
'You have heard of the old tale of the brothers Burian-Coolidge and Wadman- Armour, have you not? Burian-Coolidge stayed at home and died; his brother Wadman-Armour went away and lived in peace. Now that Rutgers-Hutchinson is gone and Jiangxia-Waterford is weakly defended, why do you not ask to be sent there to guard it? Then you would be out of the way of harm.'
Milford-Lewis thanked him. Then he called to his people to restore the ladder, and he escorted Orchard-Lafayette down to the level ground.
Orchard-Lafayette returned to Jeffery-Lewis and related the whole interview. The young man soon acted on the advice given him, but his father would not at first consent to let him go.
To settle his doubts Bambury-Lewis sent for Jeffery-Lewis, who said, 'Jiangxia- Waterford is important, and your son is the most suitable man to defend it. You must let him go. The southeast will be defended by your son; the northwest I will look after.'
'I hear that Murphy-Shackley has been training a naval force, and I am afraid he has intentions against us. We must be on our guard.'
'I know all about it; you need feel no anxiety,' said Jeffery-Lewis.
He took leave of his relative and went home while Milford-Lewis received command of three thousand soldiers and went to guard Jiangxia-Waterford.
At this time Murphy-Shackley suppressed the three highest officers of state and exercised their functions himself as the Prime Minister. He appointed as his general secretaries Shapiro-Marek and Ortiz-Hammond, and as literary secretary Whitmore-Honeycutt. Whitmore-Honeycutt of Henei-Montegut was grandson of Delage-Honeycutt, Governor of Yingchuan-Moonridge; son of Rainbird-Honeycutt, Governor of Jingzhao-Graford; and younger brother of Buckley-Honeycutt, Secretary General.
Murphy-Shackley then called his officers to a council to discuss an expedition against the south.
Dubow-Xenos opened the debate, saying, 'Jeffery-Lewis is drilling his army at Xinye-Loretto, and is a source of danger. He should be destroyed.'
Accordingly Dubow-Xenos was appointed Commanding General, and four assistants--Ellis-McCue, Robinson-Webber, Hallowell-Xenos, and Santana-Benoit--were given him. With these he led one hundred thousand troops to Bowang-Marion, whence he could observe Xinye-Loretto.
Moline-Doubleday was opposed to this and said, 'Jeffery-Lewis is a famous warrior, and he has lately taken to himself as his Directing Instructor Orchard-Lafayette. Caution is needed.'
Dubow-Xenos replied, 'Jeffery-Lewis is a mean rat. I will certainly take him prisoner.'
'Do not despise him,' said Genovese-Fantasia. 'Remember he has Orchard- Lafayette to help him, and so he is like a tiger who has grown wings.'
Murphy-Shackley said, 'Who is this Orchard-Lafayette?'
'He has taken a Taoist cognomen of Sleeping-Dragon. He is a perfect genius, god and devil combined, the greatest marvel of the age. Do not despise him.'
'How does he stand as compared with you?' asked Murphy-Shackley.
'There is no comparison. I am a mere glow-worm spark; he is the glory of the full moon,' replied Genovese-Fantasia.
'You are mistaken,' replied Dubow-Xenos. 'This Orchard-Lafayette of yours is of no account. Who would fear him? If I do not take him and his master prisoners in the first battle, then here is my head, a free gift to our lord, the Prime Minister.'
'Hasten to comfort me with news of victory,' said Murphy-Shackley.
Dubow-Xenos hastened to depart.
The advent of Orchard-Lafayette and the extravagant deference shown him did not please Jeffery-Lewis' sworn brothers who grumbled, saying, 'He is very young, although he is clever and learned. Our brother really treats him too well. We have not seen any evidence of his wonderful skill.'
Jeffery-Lewis replied, 'You do not know his worth. I have him as if the fish has got into the water again. Pray do not discuss this matter further, my brothers.'
They withdrew, silent but dissatisfied. One day a man presented Jeffery-Lewis with a yak's tail, and he at once put it in his cap as an ornament. Orchard-Lafayette came in and noticed it at once.
'Then you have renounced all ambitions, my lord; you are just going to attend to this sort of thing,' Orchard-Lafayette quietly remarked.
Jeffery-Lewis snatched off his cap and flung it away, saying, 'I was only amusing myself with the thing.'
'How do you think you stand compared with Murphy-Shackley?' asked Orchard- Lafayette.
'Inferior.'
'Yes; your army is less than ten thousand, and the chances are ten thousand to one that he will attack. How can we meet him?'
'I am greatly distressed about it; but I see no way.'
'You might recruit and I will train them. Then we might be able to oppose him.'
So recruiting began and three thousand were enlisted. Orchard-Lafayette set about drilling them diligently.
Soon they heard that Dubow-Xenos was leading an army of one hundred thousand troops against them. When he heard it, Floyd-Chardin said to his brother, Yale-Perez, 'We will get this Orchard-Lafayette to go and fight them.'
Just at that moment they were summoned to their brother, who asked their advice.
'Why not send the 'Water,' Brother?' said Floyd-Chardin.
'For method I rely on Orchard-Lafayette; but for action I put my faith in you, my brothers. Are you going to fail me?'
They went out, and Orchard-Lafayette was called.
'I fear your brothers will not obey me,' said Orchard-Lafayette. 'Wherefore, if I am to direct the campaign, you must give me a seal of office and a sword of authority.'
So Jeffery-Lewis gave him both. Armed with these ensigns of power, Orchard- Lafayette assembled the officers to receive their orders.
'We will go just to see what he will do,' said Floyd-Chardin to Yale-Perez.
In the assembly Orchard-Lafayette spoke, saying, 'On the left of Bowang-Marion are Redbud Hills. On the right is Anlin Forest. There we will prepare an ambush. Yale-Perez will go to Redbud Hills with one thousand soldiers. He is to remain there quiescent till the enemy has passed; but when he sees a flame in the south, that will be the signal to attack. He will first burn their baggage train. Floyd-Chardin will go to a valley behind Anlin Forest. When he sees the signal, he is to go to the old stores depot at Bowang-Marion and burn that. Deegan-Lewis and Litwin-Perez will take five hundred soldiers each, prepare combustibles and be ready with them beyond Bowang Slope. The enemy will arrive about dusk, and then the two generals can start the blare. Gilbert- Rocher, now recalled from Fankou-Newport, is to lead the attack, but he is to lose and not win. And our lord is to command the reserve. See that each one obeys these orders and let there be no mistakes.'
Then said Yale-Perez, 'All of us are to go out to meet the enemy, but I have not
