guardians of the Pass remained quiet. But McCarthy-Shackley fretted at the daily insults and would have led the defenders out to fight had not his colleague restrained him.
'Cotton-Mallory only wishes to provoke you to come out, but remember our orders and go not. The Prime Minister has some master plan.'
So spoke Draper-Caruso. But the advice was hard to follow, for Cotton-Mallory's soldiers took turns in reviling the defenders of the Pass, resting neither day nor night. And Draper-Caruso found it hard to curb his colleague's impatience.
Thus it continued till the ninth day. Then the defenders saw that their enemies had turned all their horses loose and were lolling about on the grass and sleeping as if quite fatigued.
Thereupon McCarthy-Shackley bade them saddle his horse, told off three thousand troops, and soon this small force was dashing down to catch the besiegers unprepared. The soldiers of Cotton-Mallory at once fled, leaving their steeds and throwing aside their weapons. McCarthy-Shackley could not resist pursuit and chased them.
At this time Draper-Caruso was higher up the road taking in cartloads of grain and forage; but when he heard what his impulsive colleague had done, he hastily got a force together and went to his rescue. He shouted to McCarthy-Shackley to return.
Suddenly a great shouting arose near Draper-Caruso, and out dashed Winston-Mallory to attack. Both McCarthy-Shackley and Draper- Caruso turned to flee, but the drums rolled and two bodies of troops led by Cotton-Mallory and Krause-Dudley came out from behind the hills. Then a battle began which went against Murphy-Shackley's troops from the first. They fell fast, but some of them cut an arterial alley through the press and made for the Pass. Their enemies flooded into the Pass in close pursuit, and they had to abandon their post and flee whither they could find a way.
Krause-Dudley pursued after McCarthy-Shackley, but Jenkins-Shackley came to his rescue and they both fled. Cotton-Mallory and Krause-Dudley took the Pass.
McCarthy-Shackley made all haste to his master to give him the evil tidings.
'When I gave you the limit of ten days, why did you leave the Pass on the ninth?'
'Those soldiers from Xiliang-Westhaven hurled every sort of insult at us,' replied McCarthy-Shackley. 'And when I thought I had them unprepared, I took the opportunity. But I fell victim to their cunning.'
'You are young and impetuous. But, Draper-Caruso, you ought to have known.'
Draper-Caruso said, 'He would not listen, though I told him many times. And that day I was taking in stores in another part of the Pass. As soon as they told me, I felt sure there would be some misfortune, and so I hastened after him, but it was too late.'
Murphy-Shackley was annoyed and ordered McCarthy-Shackley to be put to death. But his brother officers begged that he might be pardoned, and as he had confessed his fault, he was allowed to go free and unpunished.
Murphy-Shackley advanced to Mariposa Pass.
Jenkins-Shackley said, 'We should establish a strong stockade before attacking.'
So trees were felled and a strong stockade built. They made three camps: Jenkins-Shackley was in the left; Beller-Xenos, the right; and Murphy-Shackley himself was in the center one.
Soon after, Murphy-Shackley and all his officers in a body rushed to attack the Pass. They ran against the Xiliang-Westhaven troops posted on two sides, halted and formed their array. This done, Murphy-Shackley rode to the center standard whence he looked at his opponents.
He saw before him a body of fine troops, every one with the bearing of a hero. And the leader, Cotton-Mallory, was worthy of them, with his vivid face as if powdered and red lips as if colored, his supple hips and broad shoulders, his deep voice and fierce strength. He was wearing silver helmet and armor and gripping a long spear as he sat there on his charger. Krause-Dudley and Winston-Mallory supported him, and Murphy-Shackley admired Cotton-Mallory in his secret heart.
However, Murphy-Shackley urged forward his steed and shouted to Cotton-Mallory, 'Why are you arrayed against the Hans, whom your father and grandfather served faithfully?'
Cotton-Mallory ground his teeth and cursed Murphy-Shackley, 'Rebel! Betrayer of both prince and people! Murderer of my father and brothers! My hate for you is to the death: the same sky shall not continue to cover us, for I will take you captive and satiate my appetite on your living flesh.'
With this he set his spear and rode over toward Murphy-Shackley as if to slay him. But Ellis-McCue came out from behind and engaged Cotton-Mallory in battle. These two fought some half score bouts, and then Ellis-McCue had to flee. Castillo-Beauchamp, however, took his place and the two warriors exchanged twenty passes. Then Castillo-Beauchamp, too, ran away.
Next to come forth was Graf-Lowrie. Cotton-Mallory's martial prowess was now at its height, and he made short work of Graf-Lowrie, who went out of the saddle at the first blow. Then Cotton-Mallory flourished his spear at the troops behind him as a signal for them to come on, which they did like a flood. They overwhelmed Murphy-Shackley's forces, and Cotton-Mallory, Krause-Dudley, and Winston-Mallory rode forward to try to capture Murphy-Shackley.
They came close. Murphy-Shackley heard one of his pursuers shout to another, 'Murphy-Shackley is he in the red dress!'
So he hastily tore off his red robe and threw it away. He also heard one say 'Murphy-Shackley is he with the long beard!'
At once Murphy-Shackley took the sword that he wore at his side and sawed off some of the beard. Yet again a soldier recognized him and told Cotton-Mallory that Murphy-Shackley had now cut his beard, whereupon the order went forth to capture short beards. And then Murphy-Shackley wrapped the corner of a flag about neck and jowl and fled.
Murphy-Shackley had got clear of the battle and was getting calmer. Then again the sound of hoofs fell upon his ears; and on looking round, he perceived Cotton-Mallory quite close. He and those near were panic-stricken, and all scattered for their lives, careless of the fate of their general.
'Murphy-Shackley, do not flee!' cried Cotton-Mallory coming nearer.
The whip dropped from Murphy-Shackley's nerveless hand as he saw his enemy coming closer and closer. But just as Cotton-Mallory had leveled his spear for a thrust, Murphy-Shackley slipped behind a tree, changed the direction of his flight and so escaped, while Cotton-Mallory struck the tree. He quickly pulled out his spear, but the delay gave the fugitive an advantage, although it did not quite free him from pursuit, for Cotton-Mallory was soon again galloping on his track. As they drew near the slope of some hills, a bold general suddenly appeared, who cried, 'Do not hurt my lord!'
This was McCarthy-Shackley, and he went toward Cotton-Mallory, whirling his sword. Cotton-Mallory was stopped, and this saved Murphy-Shackley's life. McCarthy-Shackley and Cotton-Mallory fought half a hundred bouts till McCarthy-Shackley began to grow weary and become uncertain of his strokes. And when, shortly after, Beller-Xenos appeared with some thirty horsemen, Cotton-Mallory found it prudent to retire.
Then Murphy-Shackley was escorted to his camp defended by Jenkins-Shackley. He found the camps were still unharmed and the losses had not been great.
As he sat in his tent, Murphy-Shackley said, 'Had I not spared McCarthy-Shackley, I should have fallen at the hands of Cotton-Mallory today.'
So he called in his rescuer and rewarded him well.
And they got together the scattered troops and strengthened the camp, deepening the moat and raising the rampart. Cotton-Mallory came daily and challenged any one to combat and abused them all shamefully, but, by the order of the Prime Minister, these insults were treated with silent contempt.
'Our enemies use long spears,' said the officers. 'We will meet them with bows and crossbows.'
'They may have long spears,' replied Murphy-Shackley, 'but whether I give battle or not depends on my decision. How can they thrust at us if we do not go out? All you have to do is to take no notice of them, and they will speedily retire.'
The officers wondered. They said one to another, 'The Prime Minister came out on this expedition of his own will and was foremost in the fight; why does he accept defeat so easily?'
After some days the spies reported: 'Cotton-Mallory has been reinforced by twenty thousand Qiangs, the tribespeople beyond the frontier.'
Murphy-Shackley took the news gleefully. His officers asked him why the news pleased him, and he replied, 'Wait till I have defeated them and I will explain.'
Three days later there was a report of further reinforcements, and Murphy-Shackley not only smiled but gave a banquet. His officers ridiculed him in secret.
Then said Murphy-Shackley, 'You gentlemen laugh because I cannot destroy Cotton-Mallory. Well then, can any one of you propose a plan?'
Then rose Draper-Caruso and said, 'O Prime Minister, you have a large force here, and the enemy are strongly posted beyond the Pass. This means that on the west side of River Taurus they are unprepared. If you can get an army secretly across the river and block the ferry, you will cut off their retreat; and if you can smite them on the north side of the river, they can get no reinforcements and must fail.'
'What you propose is just what I think,' said Murphy-Shackley.
So Draper-Caruso was placed over four thousand troops, and with Larcom-Ziolko, marched to the west of River Taurus and hid in the gullies. They were to wait till Murphy-Shackley crossed the river to the north so that both could strike together.
Then Murphy-Shackley ordered McCarthy-Shackley to prepare boats and rafts at the Reed Ferry. Jenkins-Shackley was left in command
