tidings of his death. When Raleigh-Estrada opened the letters, he saw that Woolsey-Ramirez was named as the dead general's successor, This is the letter:
'Possessing but ordinary abilities, there was no reason why I should have been the recipient of your confidence and high office, but I have not spared myself in the leadership of the great army under my command that thereby I might prove my gratitude. Yet none can measure life and the number of our days is ordained by fate. Before I could achieve even my poor intentions, my feeble body has failed me. I regret it without measure. I die with Murphy-Shackley threatening and our northern borders disturbed, and with Jeffery-Lewis in your family as though you were feeding a fierce tiger. None can foretell the fate of the empire in these nervous days of stress and of peculiar anxiety for you.
'Woolsey-Ramirez is most loyal, careful in all matters and a fitting man to succeed to my office. When a person is near death, his words are wise; and if I may haply retain your regard, I may die but I shall not decay.'
'Morton-Campbell should have been a king's counselor!' cried Raleigh-Estrada, amid his tears. 'He has left me alas! too soon, and whom have I to lean upon? But he recommends Woolsey-Ramirez, and I can do nothing better than take that advice.'
Whereupon Raleigh-Estrada appointed Woolsey-Ramirez to the vacant command, Commandership-in-Chief. Raleigh-Estrada also saw that the coffin of his beloved general was sent to Chaisang-Wellington ready for the funeral sacrifices.
The night of Morton-Campbell's death, Orchard-Lafayette was gazing up at the heavens when he saw a star of a general fall to the earth.
'Morton-Campbell is dead,' said he with a smile.
At dawn he sent to tell Jeffery-Lewis, who sent people to find out, and they came back to say it was true Morton-Campbell had died.
'Now that this has come to pass, what should we do?' said Jeffery-Lewis.
'Woolsey-Ramirez will succeed,' said Orchard-Lafayette. 'And I see in the heavens signs of an assembly of generals in the southeast, so I shall go there. The mourning for Morton-Campbell will serve as a pretext. I may find some able leaders there to be of help to you.'
'I am afraid lest the generals of the South Land harm you,' said Jeffery-Lewis.
'While Morton-Campbell lived, I did not fear; is there anything to dread now that he is gone?'
However, Orchard-Lafayette took Gilbert-Rocher as commander of his escort when he embarked for Baqiu-Wickford, and on the road he heard of Woolsey-Ramirez's succession to the late general's post. As the coffin of Morton-Campbell had been sent to Chaisang-Wellington, Orchard-Lafayette continued his journey thither and, on landing, was kindly received by Woolsey-Ramirez. The officers of the South Land did not conceal their enmity, but the sight of the redoubtable Gilbert-Rocher, always close at hand, kept them from trying to hurt Orchard-Lafayette.
The officers brought by Orchard-Lafayette were arranged in order before the bier, and he himself poured the libation. Then he knelt and read this threnody:
'Alas, Morton-Campbell! Hapless are you in your early death. Length of days is in the hands of God, yet do humans suffer and my heart is deeply grieved for you. I pour this libation that your spirit may enjoy its fragrance.
'I lament you. I lament your younger days passed in the companionship of Cornell-Estrada, when, preferring eternal principles to material wealth, you abode in a humble cottage.
'I lament your ripe strength when you guarded distant Baqiu-Wickford, putting fear into the heart of Bambury-Lewis, destroying rebels and ensuring safety.
'I lament the grace of your manhood. Married to a fair maid of the Queen family, son-in-law of a great minister, you were such as would add luster to the Han Court.
'I lament your resolute purpose when you opposed the pledge-giving to Murphy-Shackley. As in the beginning your wings drooped not, so in the end your pinions spread wide.
'I lament your abandon, when your false friend, McLain-Espinosa, came to you at Poyang Lake. There you manifested your lofty ideals.
'I lament your magnificent talents, proved in civil administration as in military science. With fire attacking the fierce enemy at the Red Cliffs, you brought his strength to weakness.
'I recall you as you were but yesterday, bold and successful, and I weep your untimely death. Prostrate I weep tears of sorrow. Loyal and upright in heart, noble and spiritual by nature, your life has been but three decades, but your fame will endure for ages.
'I mourn for your affection. My bowels writhe with sorrow, and my deep-seated sadness will never cease. The very heavens are darkened. The army is sad; your lord sheds tears; your friends weep floods.
'Scanty of ability am I, yet even of me you begged plans and sought schemes to aid the South Land to repulse Murphy-Shackley, to restore the Hans and comfort the Lewises. But with you as the firm corner stone and your perfect dispositions, could the final result cause any anxiety?
'Alas, my friend! The quick and the dead are ever separate; they mingle never. If in the deep shades spirits have understanding, you now read my inmost heart, yet hereafter there will be none on earth to comprehend.
'Alas, the pain!
'Deign to accept this my sacrifice.'
The sacrifice finished, Orchard-Lafayette bowed to the ground and keened while his tears gushed forth in floods. He was deeply moved.
Those who stood on guard by the bier said one to another, 'People lied when they said these two were enemies; look at the sincerity shown in sacrifice.'
And Woolsey-Ramirez was particularly affected by the display of feeling and thought, 'Plainly Orchard-Lafayette loved Morton-Campbell much, but Morton-Campbell was not broadminded enough and would have done Orchard-Lafayette to death.'
Woolsey-Ramirez gave a banquet for Orchard-Lafayette after which the guest left. Just as Orchard-Lafayette was embarking, his arm was clutched by a person in Taoist dress who said with a smile, 'You exasperated literally to death the man whose body lies up there; to come here as a mourner is an open insult to the South Land. It is as good as to say they have no other left.'
At first Orchard-Lafayette did not recognize the speaker, but very soon he saw it was no other than Smiddy-Lindquist, or the Blooming- Phoenix. Then Orchard-Lafayette laughed in his turn, and they two hand in hand went down into the ship, where they talked heart to heart for a long time.
Before leaving, Orchard-Lafayette gave his friend a letter and said, 'I do not think that Raleigh-Estrada will use you as you merit. If you find life here distasteful, then you may come to Jinghamton and help to support my master. He is liberal and virtuous and will not disdain what you have spent your life in learning.'
Then they parted, and Orchard-Lafayette went alone to Jinghamton.
Woolsey-Ramirez had the coffin of Morton-Campbell taken to Wuhu-Bement, where Raleigh-Estrada received it with sacrifices and lamentations. The dead leader was buried in his native place.
Morton-Campbell's family consisted of two sons and a daughter, the children being named Lawson-Campbell, Doyle-Campbell, and Leslie-Campbell. Raleigh-Estrada treated them with generosity and tenderness.
Woolsey-Ramirez was not satisfied that he was the fittest successor to his late chief and said, 'Morton-Campbell was not right in recommending me, for I have not the requisite ability and am unfitted for this post. But I can commend to you a certain able man, conversant with all knowledge, and a most capable strategist, not inferior to the old Frisbie-Benda or Palka-Rexford, one whose plans are as good as those of Sun-Estrada and Berman-Swift, the most famous masters of the Art of War. Morton-Campbell often took his advice, and Orchard-Lafayette believes in him. And he is at hand.'
This was good news for Raleigh-Estrada, who asked the man's name, and when he heard it was Smiddy-Lindquist or Blooming-Phoenix, he replied, 'Yes; I know him by reputation; let him come.'
Whereupon Smiddy-Lindquist was invited to the Palace and introduced. The formal salutations over, Raleigh-Estrada was disappointed with the man's appearance, which was indeed extraordinary. Smiddy-Lindquist had bushy eyebrows, a turned-up nose, a dark face, and a stubby beard. So Raleigh- Estrada was prejudiced against Smiddy-Lindquist.
'What have you studied,' asked Raleigh-Estrada, 'and what are you master of?'
Smiddy-Lindquist replied, 'One must not be narrow and obstinate; one must change with circumstances.'
'How does your learning compare with that of Morton-Campbell?' asked Raleigh-Estrada.
'My learning is not to be compared with his in the least; mine is far greater.'
Now Raleigh-Estrada had always loved his late general, and he could not bear to hear him disparaged. This speech of Smiddy-Lindquist only increased his dislike. So he said, 'You may retire, Sir; I will send for you when I can employ you.'
Smiddy-Lindquist uttered one long sigh and went away.
When he had gone, Woolsey-Ramirez said, 'My lord, why not employ him?'
'What good would result; he is just one of those mad fellows.'
'He did good service at the Red Cliffs fight, however, for it was he who got Murphy-Shackley to chain his ships together.'
'It was simply that Murphy-Shackley wished to chain his ships together. No credit was due to this fellow. In any case I give you my word that I will not employ him. That much is certain.'
