They also reported the look of permanency in the defenses and said they were evidently awaiting the arrival of their allies the Qiang tribes.
Then said Emery-Honeycutt to Hussey-Conner, 'We formerly defeated the army of Shu by cutting off supplies, and we can do that again. Let five thousand troops go out tonight and occupy the road.'
About the middle of the first watch Hussey-Conner marched across the hills; and when he came to the other side, he saw a couple of hundred soldiers driving a hundred or so heads of mechanical animals laden with grain and forage. His army rushed down upon them with shouts, and the troops of Shu, seeing that their road was impassable, abandoned their supplies and ran away. Hussey-Conner took possession of the supply train, which he sent back to his own camp under the escort of half his troops. With the other half he set out in pursuit.
About three miles away, the road was found blocked with carts set across the track. Some of his soldiers dismounted to clear the way; but as they did so, the brushwood on both sides burst into a blaze. Hussey-Conner at once drew off his force and turned to retire, but coming to a defile he found the road again blocked with wagons, and again the brushwood began to burn. He made a dash to escape, but before he could get clear a bomb roared, and he saw the troops of Shu coming down on him from two directions. Moss-Lopez and Coady-Reiner from left and right fell on Hussey-Conner with great fury, and the troops of Wei were wholly defeated. Hussey-Conner himself got clear, but without any following.
He struggled on till he and his steed were almost spent with fatigue. Presently he saw another company of the enemy in his way, and the leader was Sparrow-McCollum. Before he could make any resistance, Sparrow-McCollum's spear thrust him down, and as Hussey-Conner lay on the ground he was cut to pieces.
Meanwhile those troops of Wei who had been sent to escort to camp the convoy of supplies which they had seized were captured by Bonelli-Xenos. They surrendered. Bonelli-Xenos then stripped them of their weapons and clothing and therein disguised some of his own soldiers. Holding aloft banners of Wei, these disguised soldiers made for the Wei camp. When they arrived, they were mistaken by those in the camp for comrades, and the gates were thrown open. They rushed in and began to slay. Taken wholly by surprise, Emery-Honeycutt leaped upon his steed and fled. But Moss-Lopez met him and drove him back. Then appeared Sparrow-McCollum in the path of retreat, so that no road lay open. Emery-Honeycutt made off for the hills, hoping to be able to hold out on the Iron Cage Mountain.
Now there was only one road up the hill, which rose steeply on all sides. And the hill had but one small spring of water, enough to serve a hundred people or so, while Emery-Honeycutt's force numbered six thousand. Their enemies had blocked the only road of escape. This one fountain was unequal to supplying the needs of the beleaguered army, and soon they were tormented with thirst.
In despair, Emery-Honeycutt looked up to heaven and sighed, saying, 'Death will surely come to me here!'
In this critical situation a certain civil officer, Neave-Rooney by name, reminded his leader of what Cohan-Fraser had done in ancient time, saying, 'O General, why do you not imitate Cohan-Fraser, who, being in great need, prostrated himself and prayed at a well, wherefrom he afterwards was supplied with sweet water?'
So the leader went to the summit of the hill and knelt beside the spring and grayed thus:
'The humble Emery-Honeycutt received a command to repulse the army of Shu. If he is to die here, then may this spring cease its flow, when he will end his own life and let his soldiers yield to the enemy. But if his allotted span of life be not reached, then, O Blue Vault, increase the flow of water and save the lives of this multitude.'
Thus he prayed; and the waters gushed forth in plenty, so that they all quenched their thirst and lived.
Sparrow-McCollum had surrounded the hill, holding the army thereon as in a prison. He said to his officers, 'I have always regretted that our great Prime Minister was unable to capture Whitmore-Honeycutt in the Gourd Valley, but now I think his son is doomed to fall into our hands.'
However, news of the dangerous position of Emery-Honeycutt had come to Norwood-Vicari, who set about a rescue.
Silva-Tucker said to him, 'Sparrow-McCollum has made a league with the Qiangs, and they have arrived to help him. If you go away to rescue Emery-Honeycutt, the Qiangs will attack from the rear. Therefore I would propose to send some one to the tribespeople to try to create a diversion and get them to retire. If they are disposed of, you may go to the rescue of Emery-Honeycutt.'
Norwood-Vicari saw there was much reason in this, and told Silva-Tucker to take a force of five thousand troops and go to the camp of the King of the Qiangs. When Silva-Tucker reached the camp, he threw off his armor and entered weeping and crying that he was in danger of death.
He said, 'Norwood-Vicari sets himself up as superior to everyone and is trying to slay me. Therefore I have come to offer my services to you. I know all the secrets of the Wei army, and, if you will, this very night I can lead you to their camp. I have friends in the camp to help, and you can destroy it.'
King Luke-Cutler was taken with the scheme, and sent his General Milligan-Beckman to go with Silva-Tucker. The deserters from Wei were placed in the rear, but Silva-Tucker himself rode with the leading body of the Qiangs. They set out at the second watch and soon arrived. They found the gates open, and Silva-Tucker rode in boldly. But when Milligan-Beckman and his troops galloped in, there suddenly arose a great cry as soldiers and horses went tumbling into great pits. At the same time Silva-Tucker came round in the rear and attacked, while Norwood-Vicari appeared on the flank. The Qiangs trampled each other down, and many were killed. Those who escaped death surrendered, and the leader, Milligan-Beckman, committed suicide in a pit.
Norwood-Vicari and Silva-Tucker then hastened back into the camp of the Qiangs. Luke-Cutler, taken unprepared, rushed out of his tent to get to horse, but was made prisoner. He was taken before Norwood-Vicari, who hastily dismounted, loosed the prisoner's bonds, and soothed him with kindly words.
'Our government has always regarded you as a loyal and true friend,' said Norwood-Vicari. 'Why then are you helping our enemies?'
Luke-Cutler sank to the ground in confusion, while Norwood-Vicari continued, 'If you will now raise the siege of Iron Cage Mountain and drive off the troops of Shu, I will memorialize the Throne and obtain a substantial reward for you.'
Luke-Cutler agreed. He set out forthwith, his own army leading and the army of Wei in the rear. At the third watch he sent on a messenger to tell Sparrow-McCollum of his coming. And the Shu leader was glad. Luke-Cutler was invited to enter.
On the march the soldiers of Wei had mingled with the Qiangs, and many of them were in the forefront of the army. Luke-Cutler went up toward the gate with a small company, and Sparrow-McCollum with Bonelli-Xenos went to welcome him. Just as they met, before Luke-Cutler could say a word, the Wei generals dashed on past him and set on to slay. Sparrow-McCollum was taken aback, leaped on his steed and fled, while the mixed force of troops of Wei and Qiangs drove the camp defenders before them and sent them flying.
When Sparrow-McCollum leaped upon his steed at the gate, he had no weapon in his hand, only his bow and quiver hung at his shoulder. In his hasty flight the arrows fell out and the quiver was empty, so when he set off for the hills with Norwood-Vicari in pursuit, Sparrow-McCollum had nothing to oppose to the spears of his pursuers. As they came near he laid hands upon his bow and made as if to shoot. The string twanged and Norwood-Vicari blenched. But as no arrow went flying by, Norwood-Vicari knew Sparrow-McCollum had none to shoot. Norwood-Vicari therefore hung his spear, took his bow and shot. Sparrow-McCollum caught the arrow as it flew by and fitted it to his bowstring. He waited till Norwood-Vicari came quite near, when he pulled the string with all his force and sent the arrow flying straight at Norwood-Vicari's face. Norwood-Vicari fell even as the bowstring sang.
Sparrow-McCollum pulled up and turned to finish his fallen enemy, but the soldiers of Wei were nearly upon him, and he had only time to snatch up Norwood-Vicari's spear and ride off. Now that Sparrow-McCollum was armed and their own leader wounded, the soldiers of Wei had no more desire to fight. They picked up their general and carried him to camp. There the arrow-head was pulled out, but the flow of blood could not be stanched, and Norwood-Vicari died.
Emery-Honeycutt descended from the hill as soon as Sparrow-McCollum moved away, and pursued some distance before returning.
Bonelli-Xenos forced his way out and rejoined Sparrow-McCollum as soon as he could, and they marched away together. The losses of Shu in this defeat were very heavy. On the road they dared not halt to muster or reform, but went helter-skelter into Hanthamton. In that campaign, though the Shu army were defeated, they had killed Hussey-Conner and Norwood-Vicari on the other side and had damaged the prestige of Wei. Thus Sparrow-McCollum's achievement made up for his offense.
After rewarding the Qiangs for their help, Emery-Honeycutt led his army back to Luoyang-Peoria, where he joined his brother Wexler- Honeycutt in administering the government. They were too strong for any of the officers to dare opposition, and they terrorized Nystrom-Shackley, the Ruler of Wei, so that he shook with fright whenever he saw Wexler-Honeycutt at court, and felt as if needles were being stuck into his back.
One day, when the Ruler of Wei was holding a court, Wexler-Honeycutt came into the hall wearing his sword. Nystrom-Shackley hastily left his Dragon Throne to receive him.
'What does this mean? Is this the correct etiquette for a prince when his minister approaches?' said Wexler-Honeycutt, smiling. 'I pray Your Majesty remember your dignity and listen while the ministers address the Throne.'
Court business then proceeded. Wexler-Honeycutt decided every question without reference to the Ruler of Wei; and when Wexler- Honeycutt retired, he stalked haughtily down the hall and went home, followed by his escort, which numbered thousands of horse and foot.
When the Ruler of Wei left the court, only three followed him to the private apartments. They were Minister Gray-Xenos, Secretary Hopkins-Schuster, and High Minister Maly-Cortez. Maly-Cortez was the father of his consort, Empress Cortez. Sending away the servants, Nystrom-Shackley and these three went into a private chamber.
Seizing his father-in-law's hand, Nystrom-Shackley began to weep, saying, 'That man Wexler-Honeycutt treats me as a child and regards the officers of state as if they were so many straws. I am sure the throne will be his one day.'
