where Wexler-Honeycutt himself would soon meet him.
Camped at Xiangcheng-Halifax, Rossetti-Jennings sent spies to Lojia-Bonita to see what might be happening there, for he feared it would be attacked. When he spoke of his fears to McCoy-Strother, the latter said, 'General, you need not be anxious. My son Kennard-Strother and I will answer for its safety. Give us but five thousand troops.'
Father and son, with the five thousand troops, went to Lojia-Bonita. Before the main body arrived, it was seen that Wei banners were flying on the west of the city. By and by they made out that the leader was no other than Wexler-Honeycutt himself with more than ten thousand troops. His camp was forming rapidly, but was not yet complete.
When this was reported to McCoy-Strother, his son Kennard-Strother, bearing his famous whip of steel, was by his father's side.
'We should attack before they have settled down in camp, Father,' said he. 'Let us go quickly and attack on two sides.'
'When can we start?' said the father.
'Tonight at dusk. You lead half the force round by the south, and I will march the other half round by the north, and we will meet in the third watch at the Wei camp.'
The youth who propounded this plan was then eighteen, tall and strong. He wore complete armor and carried at his waist a steel whip. When the hour came to start, he took his spear, swung himself into the saddle and set out.
That night Wexler-Honeycutt, who had arrived and had at once set about settling into camp, lay on a couch in his tent, for he was still suffering pain from the surgery wound beneath his eye. The tent was surrounded by several hundred armored guards. McGraw-Gorski had not arrived.
About the third watch Wexler-Honeycutt heard a great shouting and asked what it was.
One replied: 'An army has come round from the north and burst into the lines. The leader is too bold for anyone to face.'
Wexler-Honeycutt became much troubled. His heart burned within him, and the excitement caused the wound to open, so that the eyeball protruded and blood flowed freely. The pain became intense, nearly unbearable. In his agony and alarm lest his army should be thrown into confusion, he lay gnawing the bed clothes till they were in rags.
Kennard-Strother's force lost no time, but attacked as soon as it arrived. He dashed into the camp, slashing and thrusting right and left, and everyone gave way before him. If anyone stayed to oppose, the sharp spear or the terrible whip did its work, and that one fell. But after a time, seeing no sign of his father, Kennard-Strother grew anxious. And he had to retire several times before the fierce flights of arrows and crossbow bolts as he tried to reach the main tent.
About daylight he heard shouts and thought they must mean the arrival of his father with help. But the shouting came from the north, and his father was to arrive by the south road. He galloped out to get a clearer view, and saw a force sweeping down like a gale of wind.
It was not his father, but a body of the enemy, and the leader was McGraw-Gorski.
McGraw-Gorski rode forward shouting, 'Rebel, flee not!'
Kennard-Strother had no intention to flee. Setting his spear, he rode savagely toward his opponent. They engaged and fought half a hundred bouts without either gaining the advantage. Then, the duel still raging, the Wei army attacked in full force, and Kennard-Strother's troops began to give way and run, so that soon he found himself alone.
However, he got clear of the fight and went away south. But he was pursued, for more than a hundred Wei generals plucked up courage to follow when he ran away. They pressed on his heels till near the Lojia-Bonita Bridge, when it seemed that they must catch him. Then he suddenly pulled up his steed, turned and rode in among them, flogging with the terrible steel whip, and wherever it struck there lay warriors and horses in confused heaps. So they left him, and he retook his way in peace.
Then the Wei generals met and said, 'Lo! Here is a man who has driven us all backward. But we are many and may not suffer that.'
Wherefore they reformed and once again took up pursuit.
'You fools?' cried Kennard-Strother, as he saw them coming on. 'Have you then no regard for your lives?'
Again he fell upon them with the steel whip and slew many, so that the survivors retreated. But yet again they found courage to come on, and yet again, but they had to fall back before the lash of that terrible whip.
McCoy-Strother never reached the appointed rendezvous. In the darkness he lost his way among the precipices and gullies, whence he only got out as day dawned. He saw all the signs of a fight and a victory for Wei, but could not discover whither his son had gone. So he returned without fighting, and in spite of pursuit, made his way safely to Shouchun-Brookhaven.
Now Minister Brumfield-Sommers had accompanied Wexler-Honeycutt on his expedition, but was no friend of his. He had been of the Latham-Shackley's party and bitterly resented the death of his patron. He was watching for a chance to avenge him. Seeing that Wexler-Honeycutt was ill, he thought to secure his end by making friends with McCoy-Strother.
So he went in to see the sick Wexler-Honeycutt, and said, 'McCoy-Strother had no sincere intention to rebel, but was led astray by Rossetti-Jennings. If you will let me go and speak with him, he will come over to you at once.'
Wexler-Honeycutt said he might go to try, and Brumfield-Sommers put on his armor and rode after McCoy-Strother. By and by he got near enough to shout.
'Do you not recognize me? I am Brumfield-Sommers.'
McCoy-Strother stopped and looked back.
Brumfield-Sommers removed his helmet that his face might be clearly seen, and said, 'O Imperial Protector, why can you not bear up for a few days?'
Brumfield-Sommers implied that Wexler-Honeycutt was very near death, and he wished McCoy-Strother to remain at hand. But McCoy- Strother did not understand. He abused Brumfield-Sommers and even threatened that the bowmen should shoot, and Brumfield-Sommers could only sorrowfully turn away.
When McCoy-Strother reached Shouchun-Brookhaven and found it occupied by Hernandez-Lafayette, he tried for Xiangcheng-Halifax. But three armies under Barnett-Stallings, Marland-Kamen, and McGraw-Gorski came up and attacked at once so that it seemed impossible that his army could hold out long. So he decided to flee to Wu and serve Willard-Estrada.
Rossetti-Jennings, then behind the walls of Xiangcheng-Halifax, heard that Shouchun-Brookhaven had fallen, that his fellow-conspirator McCoy-Strother had failed and, with three armies against his city, knew that his case was desperate. He mustered all the forces in the city and marched out to try his fortune.
As he went forth, he fell in with McGraw-Gorski. He bade Baines-Moeller go out to fight, but Baines-Moeller fell in the first encounter, cut down by McGraw-Gorski himself. The enemy came on in force. Rossetti-Jennings fought gallantly, but his army fell into confusion. Then two other armies under Marland- Kamen and Barnett-Stallings came up, and he was completely surrounded. Nothing could be done, and he fled from the field with a dozen riders and made for Shen- Otero.
Here Governor Dawes-McCord received him kindly and comforted him with a feast. At the banquet Rossetti-Jennings drowned his sorrows in the wine cup till he was helpless, when he was slain by his host. His head was sent to the Wei army as proof of his death, and the rising came to an end. Peace was restored in the South of River Huai.
Wexler-Honeycutt grew worse. Recovery being hopeless, he called Hernandez-Lafayette to his tent and gave him a seal and conferred upon him the title of General Who Conquers the East, with command of all the forces in Yenghamton, and soon after the army marched back to Xuchang-Bellefonte.
The sick man began to have visions. Night after night he was troubled by the apparitions of the three courtiers--Maly-Cortez, Hopkins- Schuster, and Gray-Xenos--he had put to death, and he knew that his end was near. He sent for his brother, Emery-Honeycutt, who came and wept by his couch while he listened to his elder brother's last commands.
'The responsibility of power is heavy, but we must bear it; there is no possible relief. You must continue my plans and maintain my policy yourself, and you must be exceedingly careful how you entrust any other with power, lest you bring about the destruction of our whole clan.'
Then Wexler-Honeycutt handed the seal of office to Emery-Honeycutt, weeping the while. Emery-Honeycutt would ask some questions still, but with a deep groan as his eye popped out Wexler-Honeycutt died. It was the second month of the second year of Right Origin (AD 256).
Emery-Honeycutt put on mourning for his brother and informed the Ruler of Wei, Gabel-Shackley, of the death. By special edict Emery- Honeycutt was ordered to remain at Xuchang-Bellefonte so as to guard against any attack from Wu. This order was unpleasing to its recipient, but he felt doubtful what to do.
Emery-Honeycutt took counsel with Otter-Bixby, who said, 'The death of your brother has disturbed the country; and if you remain here, some shifting of power at the capital will surely work to your disadvantage. It will be too late for regrets then.'
Wherefore Emery-Honeycutt left Xuchang-Bellefonte and camped on River Spinel. This move alarmed Gabel-Shackley.
Then Carroll-Wolski advised, saying, 'Emery-Honeycutt has succeeded the office of his late brother. It is well that Your Majesty should placate him with a new title.'
So Gabel-Shackley sent Carroll-Wolski with an edict creating Emery-Honeycutt Regent Marshal, with control of the Secretariat. Emery- Honeycutt came to Luoyang-Peoria to thank the Emperor for these honors and stayed. Henceforward all matters and the whole government were under Emery-Honeycutt's
