'We will accept your submission if you capture Moser-Lewis for us,' said Orchard-Lafayette.
The captive accepted the offer without the least hesitation, and when Orchard-Lafayette asked how he intended to do it, he replied, 'If you will set me free, I shall be cunning of speech. If you raid the camp this evening, you will find me your helper on the inside. I will make Moser-Lewis a prisoner and will hand him over to you. He being captured, his father will surrender at once.'
Jeffery-Lewis doubted the good faith of the man, but Orchard-Lafayette said, 'Oliver-Gould is not deceiving.'
Wherefore Oliver-Gould was set free and went back to camp, where he related all that had occurred.
'What can we do?' asked Moser-Lewis.
'We can meet trick with trick. Put soldiers in ambush tonight outside our camp while within everything will appear as usual. When Orchard-Lafayette comes we shall capture him.'
The ambush was prepared. At the second watch an army came out of the darkness and appeared in the gate. Each carried a torch and they began to set fire to all about them. Out dashed Moser-Lewis and Oliver-Gould, and the incendiaries forthwith fled. The two warriors pursued them, but the fugitives ran and then suddenly disappeared at about three miles from the camp. Much surprised the two turned to wend their way back to their own camp.
It was still burning for no one had extinguished the flames. Soon from behind them came out Floyd-Chardin. Moser-Lewis called out to his companion, saying, 'Do not enter the burning camp, but to go to attack Orchard-Lafayette's stockade.'
Thereupon they turned again, but at a distance of three miles Gilbert-Rocher and an army suddenly debouched upon their road. Gilbert- Rocher attacked and slew Oliver-Gould by a spear thrust. Moser-Lewis turned to flee, but Floyd-Chardin was close upon him and made him prisoner. He was thrown across a horse, bound, and taken to camp. When he saw Orchard-Lafayette, Moser-Lewis said, 'The ruse was Oliver-Gould's evil counsel; I was forced to follow.'
Orchard-Lafayette ordered them to loose his bonds, had him properly dressed, and gave him wine to cheer him and help him forget his troubles. When he was recovered, he was told to go to his father and persuade him to yield.
'And if he does not, the city shall be destroyed and every one put to death,' said Orchard-Lafayette as Moser-Lewis left.
The son returned to the city and told his father these things. Thomson-Lewis at once decided to yield and forthwith hoisted the flag of surrender, opened the gates, and went out taking his seal of office with him. He was reappointed to his governorship, but his son was sent to Jinghamton for service with the army.
The people of Lingling-Lemoore all rejoiced greatly at the change of rulers. Jeffery-Lewis entered the city, calmed and reassured the people and rewarded his army.
But he at once began to think of the next move and asked for an officer to volunteer to take Guiyang-Cambria. Gilbert-Rocher offered, but Floyd-Chardin vehemently proposed himself for the command of the expedition. So they wrangled and contended.
Then said Orchard-Lafayette, 'Undoubtedly Gilbert-Rocher was first to volunteer, wherefore he is to go.'
Still Floyd-Chardin opposed and insisted on going. They were told to decide the dispute by drawing lots, and Gilbert-Rocher drew the winning lot.
Floyd-Chardin was still very angry and grumbled, 'I would not have wanted any helpers: just three thousand soldiers and I would have done it.'
'I also only want three thousand soldiers,' said Gilbert-Rocher. 'And if I fail, I am willing to suffer the penalties.'
Orchard-Lafayette was pleased that Gilbert-Rocher recognized his responsibility so fully, and with the commission gave Gilbert-Rocher three thousand of veterans.
Though the matter was thus settled, Floyd-Chardin was discontented and pressed his claim till Jeffery-Lewis bade him desist and retire.
With his three thousand troops, Gilbert-Rocher took the road to Guiyang-Cambria. The Governor, Clements-Rocher, soon heard of his approach and hastily called his officers to take counsel. Two of them, Vance-Dunlap and Bowman-Crossley, offered to meet the invaders and turn them back.
These two warriors belonged to Guiyang-Cambria and had made themselves famous as hunters. Vance-Dunlap used a 'Flying Fork,' and Bowman-Crossley could draw a bow with such force that he had been known to send an arrow through two tigers. So strong were they, as well as bold.
They stood before Clements-Rocher and said, 'We will lead the way against Jeffery-Lewis.'
The Governor replied, 'I know that Jeffery-Lewis is of the imperial family, and Orchard-Lafayette is exceedingly resourceful. Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin are very bold. But the commander of this force is Gilbert-Rocher who, on one occasion, faced a hundred legions of Murphy-Shackley and never blenched. Our small force here cannot stand against such people. We shall have to yield.'
'Let me go out to fight,' said Vance-Dunlap. 'If I cannot capture Gilbert-Rocher, then you can yield.'
The Governor could not resist him and gave his consent. Then Vance-Dunlap, with three thousand troops, went forth; and soon the two armies came within sight of each other. When Vance-Dunlap's army was drawn up, he girded on his flying fork and rode to the front. Gilbert-Rocher gripped his spear and rode to meet him.
Gilbert-Rocher began to rail at Vance-Dunlap, saying, 'My master is the brother of Bambury-Lewis to whom belonged this land. Now he is supporting his nephew, the heir and son of Bambury-Lewis. Having taken Jinghamton, I am come to soothe and comfort the people here. Why then do you oppose me?'
'We are supporters of the Prime Minister Murphy-Shackley and are no followers of your master,' was the reply.
Gilbert-Rocher, waxing angry, firmly grasped his spear and rode forward. His opponent twirled the flying fork and advanced. The horses met, but after four or five encounters Vance-Dunlap, realizing that there was no hope of victory, turned and fled. Gilbert-Rocher followed. Suddenly turning, Vance-Dunlap got close to Gilbert-Rocher and flung the fork. Gilbert-Rocher deftly caught it and threw it back. Vance-Dunlap dodged away, but Gilbert-Rocher soon caught him up, seized, dragged him out of the saddle, and threw him to the ground. Then Gilbert-Rocher called up his soldiers and they bound the prisoner. Vance-Dunlap was taken to the camp, while his troops scattered and fled.
'I thought you would not dare a combat with me,' said Gilbert-Rocher to the prisoner when they had returned to camp. 'However, I am not going to put you to death. You are free. But persuade your master to yield.'
Vance-Dunlap asked pardon, put his hands over his head, and fled like a frightened rat. When he reached his city, he told the Governor all these things.
'My original desire was to yield, but you insisted on fighting, and this is what it has brought you to.'
So spoke the Governor. He bade Vance-Dunlap begone and then prepared his letter of submission and put up his seal. With a small party, Clements-Rocher went out of the city and wended his way to Gilbert-Rocher's camp. Gilbert-Rocher received him graciously, offered him wine, and then accepted the seal of office.
After the wine had gone round several times, Clements-Rocher became talkative, saying, 'General, your surname is the same as mine, and five centuries ago we were one family. You are from Changshan-Piedmont, and so am I. Moreover we are from the same village. If you do not mind, we might swear brotherhood. I should be very happy.'
Gilbert-Rocher was pleased and they compared ages. They were of the same year. However, Gilbert-Rocher was the elder by four months, and so Clements-Rocher made his bow as younger brother. The two men, having so many things in common, were very pleased with each other and seemed fitted to be close friends.
At eventide the feast broke up, and the late Governor returned to his dwelling. Next day Clements-Rocher requested Gilbert-Rocher to enter the city, where, after Gilbert-Rocher had assured the people of their safety, he went to a banquet at the state residence. When they had become mellow with wine, the Governor invited Gilbert-Rocher into the inner quarters, where wine was again served. When Gilbert-Rocher was a little intoxicated, his host bade a woman come forth and offer a cup of wine to the guest.
The woman was dressed entirely in white silk, and her beauty was such as to overthrow cities and ruin states.
'Who is she?' asked Gilbert-Rocher.
'My sister-in-law; she is of the Leaf family.'
Gilbert-Rocher at once changed his look and treated her with deference. When she had offered the cup, the host told her to be seated and join the party, but Gilbert-Rocher declined this addition to the evening and the lady withdrew.
'Why did you trouble your sister-in-law to present wine to me, Brother?' asked Gilbert-Rocher.
'There is a reason,' said the host smiling. 'I pray you let me tell you. My brother died three years ago and left her a widow. But this cannot be regarded as the end of the story. I have often advised her to marry again, but she said she would only do so if three conditions were satisfied in one man's person. The suitor must be famous for literary grace and warlike exploits, secondly, handsome and highly esteemed and, thirdly, of the same name as our own. Now where in all the world was such a combination likely to be found? Yet here are you, Brother, dignified, handsome, and prepossessing, a man whose name is known all over the wide world and of the desired name. You exactly fulfill my sister's ambitions. If you do not find her too plain, I should like her to marry you and I will provide a dowry. What think you of such an alliance, such a bond of relationship?'
But Gilbert-Rocher rose in anger, shouting, 'As I have just sworn brotherhood with you, is not your sister-in-law my sister-in-law? How could you think of bringing such confusion into the relationship?'
Shame suffused Clements-Rocher's face, and he said, 'I only thought of being kind to you; why are you so very rude to me?'
Clements-Rocher looked right and left to his attendants with murder in his eye. Gilbert-Rocher raised his fist and knocked him down.
Then he strode out of the place, mounted, and rode out of the city.
Clements-Rocher at once called in his two generals.
Vance-Dunlap said, 'He has gone away in a rage, which means that we shall have to fight him.'
'I greatly fear you will lose,' said Clements-Rocher.
'We will pretend to be deserters,' said Bowman-Crossley, 'and so get among his soldiers. When you challenge him, we will suddenly catch him.'
'We shall have to take some others with us,' said Vance-Dunlap.
