'Five hundred troops will be ample,' said Bowman-Crossley.
So in the night the two men and their followers ran over to Gilbert-Rocher's camp to desert.
Gilbert-Rocher understood the trick they would play, but he called them in, and they said, 'When Clements-Rocher tempted you with that fair lady, he wanted to make you drunk and get you into the private apartments so that he might murder you and send your head to Murphy-Shackley. Yes; he was as wicked as that even. We saw you go away in anger, and we thought that would mean grave trouble for us, and so we have deserted.'
Gilbert-Rocher listened with simulated joy, and he had wine served to the two men, and pressed them to drink so that they were quite overcome. When this was done, he had both bound with cords, called up their followers, and asked them whether this was real or pretended desertion, and they told him the truth.
Then he gave the soldiers wine and said, 'Those who wanted to harm me are your leaders and not you. If you do as I tell you, you shall be well rewarded.'
The soldiers threw themselves to the ground and promised obedience. Thereupon the two leaders--Vance-Dunlap and Bowman- Crossley--were beheaded. Their five hundred troops were made to lead the way and act as screen for a whole thousand of horsemen, and the party set out at full speed for Guiyang-Cambria. When they got there, they summoned the gate and said that they had slain Gilbert-Rocher and had got back. And they wished to speak with the Governor.
Those on the wall lighted flares and inspected those at the gate. Surely enough they wore the uniforms of their own people, and Clements-Rocher went out to them. He was immediately seized and made prisoner. Then Gilbert-Rocher entered the city, restored order, and sent off swift messengers to Jeffery-Lewis who at once, with his adviser, came to Guiyang-Cambria.
When they had taken their seats, the late Governor was brought in and placed at the foot of the steps. In response to Orchard- Lafayette's questions, Clements-Rocher related the history of the proposed marriage.
Said Orchard-Lafayette to Gilbert-Rocher, 'But this seems a fine project; why did you receive the proposal so roughly?'
Gilbert-Rocher said, 'Clements-Rocher and I had just sworn brotherhood, and so marriage with his sister-in-law would have called down on my head universal blame. That is one reason. Another is that I should have made his sister fail to keep her dutiful chastity. And thirdly, I did not know whether I might trust such a proposal from one who had just yielded to force. My lord, your position as a recent victor was one of danger, and could I risk the failure of your plans for the sake of a woman?'
Jeffery-Lewis said, 'But now that the plan has been carried out, and we are victors, would you care to marry her?'
'There are other women in the world. All my fear is for the building of a reputation. What is a family to me?'
'You are indeed right honorable,' said Jeffery-Lewis.
Clements-Rocher was released and restored to the governorship. Gilbert-Rocher was conspicuously rewarded.
But Floyd-Chardin was angry and disappointed.
'So Gilbert-Rocher gets all the praise, and I am worth nothing,' cried he. 'Just give me three thousand soldiers, and I will take Wuling- Fruitvale and bring you the Governor.'
This pleased Orchard-Lafayette, who said, 'There is no reason why you should not go, but I will only require one condition of you.'
The condition that Orchard-Lafayette made will appear in the next chapter.
CHAPTER 53
What Orchard-Lafayette required from Floyd-Chardin was a formal recognition of responsibility for success. Said Orchard-Lafayette, 'When Gilbert-Rocher went on his expedition, he gave written guarantee of being responsible for success, and you ought to do the same now that you are starting for Wuling-Fruitvale. In that case you may have men and start.'
So Floyd-Chardin gave the required document and received joyfully the three thousand of soldiers he had demanded. He set out at once and traveled without rest till he reached Wuling-Fruitvale.
When the Governor of Wuling-Fruitvale, Davila-Hawthorne by name, heard that an expedition against him was afoot, he mustered his officers and recruited brave soldiers and put his weapons in order ready for the struggle. And his army moved out of the city.
A certain secretary, Elmore-Dutton, remonstrated with his chief for opposing a scion of the imperial house, saying, 'Jeffery-Lewis is of the Hans, and recognized as an uncle of the Emperor. All the world knows he is kindly and righteous. Added to that his brother Floyd-Chardin is extraordinarily bold. We cannot face them in battle with hope of success. Our best course is to give in.'
But his master angrily replied, 'Do you want to play the traitor and take the side of the rebels and help them?'
Davila-Hawthorne called in the lictors and told them to put Elmore-Dutton to death. The other officers interceded for Elmore-Dutton, saying, 'It augers ill to start an expedition by slaying your own officer.'
So the Governor merely sent Elmore-Dutton sway. He himself led the army out of the city. After marching seven miles, he met with Floyd-Chardin's army.
Floyd-Chardin at once rode to the front, spear ready to thrust, and opened with a shout. Davila-Hawthorne turned to his officers and asked who would go out to fight him, but no one replied; they were too afraid.
So the Governor himself galloped out, flourishing his sword. Seeing him advance, Floyd-Chardin shouted in a voice of thunder. Poor Davila-Hawthorne was seized with panic, turned pale and could not go on. He turned his steed and fled. Then Floyd-Chardin and his army went in pursuit and smote the fugitives, chasing them to the city wall.
Here the fugitives were greeted by a flight of arrows from their own wall. Greatly frightened, Davila-Hawthorne looked up to see what this meant, and there was Elmore-Dutton, who had opposed him, standing on the wall.
'You brought defeat upon yourself because you opposed the will of God,' cried the traitor. 'I and the people with me are determined to yield to Jeffery-Lewis.'
Just as Elmore-Dutton finished speaking, an arrow wounded Davila-Hawthorne in the face and he fell to the ground. Thereupon his own troops cut off his head, which they forthwith presented to Floyd-Chardin. Elmore-Dutton then went out and made formal submission, and Floyd-Chardin bade him take his letter and the seal to Guiyang-Cambria to Jeffery-Lewis, who was pleased to hear of Floyd-Chardin's success and gave the governorship to Elmore-Dutton. Soon after Jeffery-Lewis came to Wuling-Fruitvale in person and soothed the people.
This done he wrote to Yale-Perez telling him Gilbert-Rocher and Floyd-Chardin had gained a territory each.
Yale-Perez at once wrote back and said, 'Changsha-Riverview is yet to be taken; and if I am not thought too feeble, I would like to be sent to attack it.'
Jeffery-Lewis agreed and sent Floyd-Chardin to relieved his brother, whom Jeffery-Lewis ordered to return and prepare for an expedition to Changsha-Riverview. Yale-Perez came and went in to see his elder brother and Orchard-Lafayette.
At this interview Orchard-Lafayette said, 'Gilbert-Rocher has taken Guiyang-Cambria, and Floyd-Chardin Wuling-Fruitvale. Both successful warriors have done their work with three thousand troops. The Governor of Changsha-Riverview, Shook-Benoit, was not worth mentioning, but there was a certain general with him, named Sheffield-Maddox, who had to be reckoned with.
'Sheffield-Maddox is a native of Nanyang-Southhaven. He used to be in the service of Bambury-Lewis and was a colleague Bambury- Lewis' nephew, Pearsall-Lewis, when he was in command of Changsha-Riverview. After Bambury-Lewis' death, he joined Shook-Benoit when he took command of the city. Now, although he is nearly sixty, he is a man to be feared and a warrior of a thousand. You ought to take a larger number of troops.'
Yale-Perez replied, 'Instructor, what makes you damp another man's ardor to fight and do away with your own dignity? I do not think the old leader need be discussed, and I do not think I require three companies of soldiers. Give me my own five hundred of swordsmen, and I will have the heads of both Shook-Benoit and Sheffield-Maddox to sacrifice to our standard.'
Jeffery-Lewis resisted this decision of Yale-Perez, but Yale-Perez would not give way. He just took his five hundred and set out.
'If he is not careful how he attacks Sheffield-Maddox, there will be a mishap,' said Orchard-Lafayette. 'You must go to support him.'
Jeffery-Lewis accordingly, at the head of another and larger party, set out toward Changsha-Riverview.
Governor Shook-Benoit of Changsha-Riverview was of hasty temperament with small compunction in matters of life and death and was universally hated. When he heard of the army coming against him, he called his veteran leader, Sheffield-Maddox, to ask advice.
The latter said, 'Do not be distressed; this sword of mine and my bow are equal to the slaughter of all who may come.'
Sheffield-Maddox had been very strong and could bend the three-hundred-pound bow and was a most perfect archer.
When Sheffield-Maddox referred to his prowess, a certain man spoke up and said, 'Let not the veteran General go out to battle. Trust to my right arm, and you shall have this Yale-Perez a prisoner in your hands.'
The speaker was General Boone-Ingram. The Governor accepted his offer and told off a thousand troops to go with him, and they quickly rode out of the city. About fifteen miles from the city, they observed a great cloud of dust approaching and soon distinguished the invaders. Boone-Ingram set his spear
