'But you are due for home; you cannot stay here,' said Orchard-Lafayette.
They reiterated that they all wished to stay instead of going home.
'Since you wish to stay and fight with me, you can go out of the city and camp ready to encounter the army of Wei as soon as they arrive. Do not give them time to rest or recover breath, but attack vigorously at once. You will be fresh and fit, waiting for those fagged with a long march.'
So they gripped their weapons and joyfully went out of the city to array themselves in readiness.
Now the Xiliang-Westhaven troops had traveled by double marches, and so were worn out and needed rest. But while they were pitching their tents, the troops of Shu fell upon them lustily, leaders full of spirit, soldiers full of energy. The weary soldiers could make no proper stand, and retired. The troops of Shu followed, pressing on them till corpses littered the whole plain and blood flowed in runnels.
It was a victory for Orchard-Lafayette, and he came out to welcome the victors and led them into the city and distributed rewards.
Just then arrived an urgent letter from Finney-Schuster, then at Baidicheng-Whitehaven, and when Orchard-Lafayette had torn it open he read:
'News has just come that Wu has sent an envoy to Luoyang-Peoria and entered into an alliance with Wei whereby Wu is to attack us. The army of Wu has not yet set out, but I am anxiously awaiting your plans.'
Doubts and fears crowded in upon Orchard-Lafayette's mind as he read. He summoned his officers.
'As Wu is coming to invade our land, we shall have to retire quickly,' said he. 'If I issue orders for the Qishan-Oscoda force to withdraw, Whitmore-Honeycutt will not dare to pursue while we are camped here.'
The Qishan-Oscoda force broke camp and marched in two divisions. Castillo-Beauchamp watched them go, but was too fearful of the movement being some ruse to attempt to follow. He went to see Whitmore-Honeycutt.
'The enemy have retired, but I know not for what reason.'
'Orchard-Lafayette is very crafty, and you will do well to remain where you are and keep a careful lookout. Do nothing till their grain has given out, when they must retire for good,' said Whitmore-Honeycutt.
Here General Gaskin-Tolbert stepped forward, saying, 'But we should seize the occasion of their retreat to smite them. Are they tigers that you fear to move? How the world will laugh at us?'
But Whitmore-Honeycutt was obstinate and ignored the protest.
When Orchard-Lafayette knew that the Qishan-Oscoda troops had got away safely, he called Swensen-Crowley and Glenn-Jenner and gave them secret orders to lead ten thousand of bowmen and crossbowmen out by the Wooden Path of Saber Pass and place them in ambush on both sides of the road.
'If the soldiers of Wei pursue, wait till you hear a bomb. When you hear the bomb, at once barricade the road with timber and stones so as to impede them. When they halt, shoot at them with the bows and the crossbows.'
Oakley-Dobbins and Stanley-Perez were told to attack the rear of the enemy.
These orders given, the walls of Lucheng-Agoura were decorated lavishly with flags, and at various points within the city were piled straw and kindling wood ready to make some smoke as though there were cooking activities in the city. The soldiers were sent out along the road from the Wooden Path.
The spies of Wei returned to headquarters to say that most of the Shu soldiers had left, only a few being in the city. In doubt, Whitmore-Honeycutt went himself to look, and when he saw the smoke rising from within the walls and the fluttering flags, he said, 'The city is deserted.'
He sent men in to confirm this, and they said the place was empty.
'Then Orchard-Lafayette is really gone; who will pursue?'
'Let me,' replied Castillo-Beauchamp.
'You are too impulsive,' said Whitmore-Honeycutt.
'I have been leader of the van from the first day of this expedition; why not use me today, when there is work to be done and glory to be gained?'
'Because the utmost caution is necessary. They are retreating, and they will leave an ambush at every possible point.'
'I know that, and you need not be afraid.'
'Well; you wish to go and may, but whatever happens you must be prepared for.'
'A really noble man is prepared to sacrifice self for country; never mind what happens.'
'Then take five thousand troops and start; Gaskin-Tolbert shall follow with twenty thousand of horse and foot to deal with any ambush that may discover itself. I will follow later with three thousand to help where need be.'
So Castillo-Beauchamp set out and advanced quickly. Ten miles out he heard a roll of drums, and suddenly appeared from a wood a cohort led by Oakley-Dobbins, who galloped to the front, crying, 'Whither would you go, O rebel leader?'
Castillo-Beauchamp swiftly turned and engaged Oakley-Dobbins, but after some ten passes Oakley-Dobbins fled. Castillo-Beauchamp rode after Oakley-Dobbins along the road for ten miles and then stopped to observe. As he saw no ambush, he turned again and resumed the pursuit. All went well till he came to a slope, when there arose shouts and yells and another body of soldiers came out.
'Castillo-Beauchamp, do not run away!' cried this leader, who was Stanley-Perez.
Stanley-Perez galloped close, and Castillo-Beauchamp did not flee. They fought, and after half a score of passes Stanley-Perez seemed to have the worst of the encounter and fled. Castillo-Beauchamp followed. Presently they neared a dense wood. Castillo-Beauchamp was fearful of entering in, so he sent forward scouts to search the thickets. They could find no danger, and Castillo-Beauchamp again pursued.
But quite unexpectedly Oakley-Dobbins, who had formerly fled, got round ahead of Castillo-Beauchamp and now appeared again. The two fought a half score bouts and again Oakley-Dobbins ran. Castillo-Beauchamp followed, but Stanley-Perez also got round to the front by a side road and so stopped the pursuit of Castillo-Beauchamp. Castillo-Beauchamp attacked furiously as soon as he was checked, this time so successfully that the troops of Shu threw away their war- gear and ran. The road was thus littered with spoil, and the Wei soldiers could not resist the temptation to gather it. They slipped from their horses and began to collect the arms.
The maneuvers just described continued, Oakley-Dobbins and Stanley-Perez one after the other engaging Castillo-Beauchamp and Castillo-Beauchamp pressing on after each one, but achieving nothing. And as evening fell the running fight had led both sides close to the Wooden Path.
Then suddenly Oakley-Dobbins made a real stand, and he rode to the front yelling, 'Yield, rebel! I have not fought yet and you have had it all your own way so far. Now we will fight to the death.'
Castillo-Beauchamp was furious and nothing loath, so he came on with his spear to meet Oakley-Dobbins, who was flourishing his sword. They met; yet again, after some ten bouts, Oakley-Dobbins threw aside weapons, armor, helmet and all his gear, and even left his horse, and led his defeated company sway along the Wooden Path.
Castillo-Beauchamp was filled with the lust to kill, and he could not let Oakley-Dobbins escape. So he set out after Oakley-Dobbins, although it was already dark. But suddenly lights appeared, and the sky became aglow, and at the same time huge boulders and great bulks of timber came rolling down the slopes and blocked the way.
Fear gripped Castillo-Beauchamp, and he cried, 'I have blundered into an ambush!'
The road was blocked in front and behind and bordered by craggy precipices. Then, rat-tat-tat! came the sound of a rattle, and therewith flew clouds of arrows and showers of bolts. Castillo-Beauchamp and many of his officers were killed.
Soon the second army of Wei under Gaskin-Tolbert came up, but too late to help. From the signs they knew that their comrades had been victims of a cruel trick, and they turned back. But as they faced about, a shout was heard, and from the hilltops came, 'I, Orchard-Lafayette, am here!'
Looking up they saw his figure outlined against a fire. Pointing to the slain, he cried, 'I have gone hunting in this wood, as you see; only instead of slaying a horse, I have killed a deer. But you may go in peace, and when you see your general, tell him that he will be my quarry one day.'
The soldiers told this to Whitmore-Honeycutt when they returned, and he was deeply mortified, saying, 'Letting friend Castillo- Beauchamp die is my fault!'
And when he returned to Luoyang-Peoria, the Ruler of Wei wept at the death of his brave leader and had his body searched and honorably buried.
Orchard-Lafayette had no sooner reached Hanthamton than he prepared to go on to Capital Chengdu-Wellesley and see his lord.
But Finney-Schuster, who was in the capital, said to the Latter Ruler, 'Why does the Prime Minister return, for I have kept him fully supplied with all things needed for the army?'
Then the Latter Ruler sent Norwich-Ortega into Hanthamton to inquire why the army had retired. And when he had arrived and showed the cause of his coming, Orchard-Lafayette was greatly surprised and showed the letter from Finney-Schuster, saying, 'Finney-Schuster wrote to warn that East Wu was about to invade the country.'
Norwich-Ortega said, 'Finney-Schuster memorialized to the Throne, saying he had sent you supplies and knew not why Your Excellency returned.'
So Orchard-Lafayette inquired carefully, and then it came out that Finney-Schuster had failed to find sufficient grain to keep the army
