the Emperor's service while quelling one of the Qiang rebellions. Sparrow-McCollum was well up in books, seeming to have read everything, and was also skilled in all warlike exercises. He had studied books on war. He was a very filial son and much esteemed. He held military rank of General.
Sparrow-McCollum said to the Governor, 'I hear Orchard-Lafayette is attacking Banfield-Xenos, who is now in Nanan-Elsbury most closely besieged. How then can this messenger have got out? Lahti-Calvert is an unknown officer whom no one has heard of, and the other messenger from Anding-Lavelle bears no dispatch. The fact is the men are imposters sent to beguile you into leaving your city undefended so that it may be the more easily captured.'
The Governor began to understand. He said, 'Were it not for you, I would fall into a ruse.'
Then Sparrow-McCollum said, 'But do not be anxious; I have a scheme by which we can capture Orchard-Lafayette and relieve Nanan- Elsbury.'
The next chapter will unfold the ruse proposed by Sparrow-McCollum.
CHAPTER 93
Sparrow-McCollum propounded his scheme of defense, saying, 'Orchard-Lafayette will lay an ambush behind the city, induce our soldiers to go out and then take advantage of its undefended state to capture it. Now give me three thousand good soldiers, and I will place them in ambush at a certain critical place. Lead your troops out, but go slowly and not further than ten miles, and then turn to retire. However, look out for a signal, and if you see one, attack, for the attack will be double. If Orchard-Lafayette is there himself, we shall capture him.'
The Governor adopted this plan, gave the needed troops to Sparrow-McCollum, who marched at once, and then Sackett-Wilkerson went forth himself with Widoe-Mullins. Only two civil officials--Dodd-Mullins and Kilgore-Sumner--were left to guard the city.
Gilbert-Rocher had been sent to lie in ambush in a secret place among the hills till the Tianshui-Moorpark army left the city, when he was to rush in and capture it. His spies reported the departure of the Governor, and Gilbert-Rocher sent on the news to those who were acting with him, Coady-Reiner and Kerr-Julian, that they might attack Sackett-Wilkerson.
Gilbert-Rocher and his five thousand troops then quickly marched to the city wall and called out, 'I am Gilbert-Rocher of Changshan- Piedmont; you have fallen into our trap, but if you will surrender quickly, you will save many lives.'
But instead of being alarmed, Dodd-Mullins looked down and said, 'On the contrary, you have fallen into our trap; only you do not know it yet.'
Gilbert-Rocher began his attack on the walls. Soon there was heard a roar, and fire broke out all round, and forth came a youthful leader armed with a spear, riding a curvetting steed.
'Look at me, Sparrow-McCollum of Tianshui-Moorpark!' cried he.
Gilbert-Rocher made at him, but after a few bouts he found Sparrow-McCollum was getting very eager. He was surprised, and wondered, 'No one knows there is such an able man in Tianshui-Moorpark.'
As the fight went on, along came the two other forces under Sackett-Wilkerson and Widoe-Mullins, now returning. As Gilbert-Rocher found he could not prevail, he set to cut an arterial alley through and lead off his defeated troops. He was pursued, but Coady-Reiner and Kerr-Julian poured forth to save him, and he got away safely.
Orchard-Lafayette was surprised when he heard what had happened.
'Who is this,' said he, 'who has thus seen into the dark depths of my secret plan?'
A man of Nanan-Elsbury, who happened to be there, told him, 'He is Sparrow-McCollum from Jicheng-Lakehills. He is very filial to his mother. Civil skill and military prowess, wisdom and courage, he has all. Truly, he is a hero of the age.'
Gilbert-Rocher also praised his skill with the spear, which was superior to any other's.
Orchard-Lafayette said, 'I want to take Tianshui-Moorpark now; I did not expect to find such a man as this.'
The Shu army then advanced in force.
Sparrow-McCollum went back to Sackett-Wilkerson and said, 'Gilbert-Rocher's defeat will bring up Orchard-Lafayette with the main body. He will conclude that we shall be in the city, wherefore you would better divide your force into four. I, with one party, will go into hiding on the east so that I may cut off our enemies if they come that way. You, O Governor, and Widoe-Mullins and Kilgore-Sumner will lie in ambush on the other sides of the city. Let Dodd-Mullins and the common people go up on the wall to make the defense.'
Sackett-Wilkerson agreed to the plan and prepared everything.
Due to Sparrow-McCollum, Orchard-Lafayette himself led the main army to Tianshui-Moorpark. When they reached the city, Orchard- Lafayette gave a general orders: 'Attacking a city must be proceeded as soon as the army reaches it; and at the rolling of drums, incite and urge the soldiers to advance with a rush. The keenness of the soldiers will be spoiled by any delay.'
So this time also the army came straight up to the rampart. But they hesitated and dared not attack when they saw the flags flying in such good order and apparently such thorough preparation.
About the middle of the night, fires started up all around and a great shouting was beard. No one could see whence the Wei soldiers were coming, but there were answering shouts from the wall. The soldiers of Shu grew frightened and ran. Orchard-Lafayette mounted a horse and, with Stanley-Perez and Fritz-Chardin as escort, got out of danger. Looking back, they saw many mounted troops with torches winding along like a huge serpent.
Orchard-Lafayette bade Stanley-Perez find out what this meant, and Stanley-Perez report: 'These are Sparrow-McCollum's troops.'
Orchard-Lafayette remarked, 'An army owes more to its leading than to its numbers. This Sparrow-McCollum is a true genius.'
Orchard-Lafayette led the army back to camp, and then he thought for a long time. Suddenly he called up one of the Anding-Lavelle men and said, 'Where is the mother of this Sparrow-McCollum?'
'She lives in Jicheng-Lakehills,' replied he.
Orchard-Lafayette called Oakley-Dobbins and said to him, 'March off with a body of troops, giving out that you are going to take Jicheng- Lakehills. If Sparrow-McCollum comes up, let him enter the city.'
Then Orchard-Lafayette asked, 'What is the most important place in connection with this place?'
The man from Anding-Lavelle replied, 'The storehouse of Tianshui-Moorpark is at Shanggui-Bloomington; if that is taken, the supplies are cut off.'
This was good news, so Gilbert-Rocher was sent to attack Shanggui-Bloomington, while Orchard-Lafayette made a camp ten miles south of the city.
The spies took the news of the movements of these three forces into Tianshui-Moorpark.
When Sparrow-McCollum heard that one army was to attack his own place, he pleaded with Sackett-Wilkerson, saying, 'My mother is in Jicheng-Lakehills, and I am worried about the attacking force. Let me go to its defense, that I may keep the city and do my duty by my mother at the same time.'
So Sparrow-McCollum received command of three thousand troops and marched toward his home.
When Sparrow-McCollum came near the walls, he saw a cohort under Oakley-Dobbins. He attacked. After a show of defense Oakley- Dobbins retreated, and Sparrow-McCollum entered the city. He closed the gates and prepared to defend the wall. Then he went home to see his mother.
In the same way Widoe-Mullins was allowed to enter Shanggui-Bloomington.
Then Orchard-Lafayette sent for his prisoner, Banfield-Xenos, and, when he was brought to his tent, Orchard-Lafayette said suddenly, 'Are you afraid of death?'
Banfield-Xenos prostrated himself and begged for his life.
'Well, Sparrow-McCollum of Tianshui-Moorpark, who, is now gone to guard Jicheng-Lakehills, has sent a letter to say that he would surrender if only that would secure your safety. Now I am going to let you go if you will promise to induce Sparrow-McCollum to come over to me. Do you accept the condition?'
'I am willing to induce him to yield to you,' said Banfield-Xenos.
Orchard-Lafayette then gave his prisoner clothing and a horse and let him ride away. Nor did he send anyone to follow him, but let him choose his own road.
Having got outside, Banfield-Xenos wanted to get away, but he was perfectly ignorant of the roads and knew not which to take. Presently he came across some people, apparently in flight, and he questioned them.
'We are Jicheng-Lakehills people,' said they. 'Sparrow-McCollum has surrendered the city and deserted to Orchard-Lafayette. The troops of Shu are looting and burning, and we have escaped. We are going to Shanggui-Bloomington.'
'Do you know who is holding Tianshui-Moorpark?'
'Governor Sackett-Wilkerson is in there,' said they.
Hearing this, Banfield-Xenos rode quickly toward Tianshui-Moorpark. Presently he met more people, evidently fugitives, leading sons and carrying daughters, who told the same story. By and by he came to the gate of the city, and, as he was recognized, the wardens of the gate admitted him, and the
