of the camps.
Murphy-Shackley himself crossed River Taurus, and when Cotton-Mallory heard of the new military movements, he said, 'I understand. The Pass is left, rafts are being prepared; that means that he is going to cross to the north side and cut off my retreat. I must coast along the river and keep him off. If I can do that, his food will run short within twenty days, and that will cause a mutiny. I will travel along the south bank and attack.'
Maguire-Hathaway did not approve this plan. He quoted the military maxim to strike when troops were half over the river.
'Attack from the south bank when his army is in the act of crossing, and his army will be drowned in the river,' said he.
'Uncle, your words are good,' replied Cotton-Mallory. And the spies went forth to find out the time of crossing the river.
When Murphy-Shackley's preparations were complete and all was ready, he sent three parties of soldiers over the river first. They reached the ferry at the first sign of dawn, and the veterans were sent over first and lay out a camp. Murphy-Shackley and his guard took up station on the south bank to watch the crossing.
Very soon the sentinels reported, 'A general dressed all in white is approaching.'
Everyone knew it must be Cotton-Mallory. This terrified them and they made a rush to get into the boats. The river bank became a scene of shouting men struggling who could first embark. Murphy-Shackley sat watching and never stirred. He only issued orders to stop the confusion. Meanwhile, the yelling of the troops and the neighing of the horses of the approaching army came nearer and nearer. Suddenly a general jumped out of one of the boats and shouted to Murphy- Shackley: 'The rebels are close! Get into a boat, O Prime Minister.'
'The rebels are near; why not?' replied Murphy-Shackley simply to the speaker, who was Dietrich-Munoz. And he turned round to look at them.
As a fact Cotton-Mallory was very close, not a hundred paces away, and Dietrich-Munoz laid hold of Murphy-Shackley and dragged him down the bank. The boat had already pushed off and was ten spans from the bank, but Dietrich-Munoz took Murphy-Shackley on his back and leaped on board. The boat was small and in danger of being overturned, wherefore Dietrich-Munoz drew his sword and chopped away at the hands clinging to the side so that the soldiers fell back into the water.
The boat went down stream, Dietrich-Munoz standing in the prow poling as hard as he could. His master crouched out of sight at his feet.
When Cotton-Mallory saw tile boat in midstream drifting down with the current, he took his bow and arrows and began to shoot. He also ordered his brave generals to go along the river and shoot so that a shower of arrows fell about the boat. Dietrich-Munoz fearing Murphy-Shackley would be wounded, protected him with a saddle which he held over him with his left hand, for Cotton-Mallory's shooting was not in vain. Many of the soldiers working the boat were wounded. Some had fallen overboard, while more lay in the bottom of the boat. The boat itself got out of control and was whirled hither and thither by the current. Dietrich-Munoz straddled over the tiller and tried thus to guide the boat while he poled with one hand and with the other held the protecting saddle over Murphy-Shackley's head.
Then the Magistrate of Weinan-Vandalia, Burgess-Selfridge, who from a hill top saw that Murphy-Shackley was very closely pressed, even in danger of his life, drove out from his camp all the cattle and horses there, so that they scattered over the hillside. This was too much for the born Qiang herdsmen of the plains. At sight of the beasts, they left the river and ran off to secure the cattle. Nor had they any inclination to pursue their enemy.
And so Murphy-Shackley escaped. As soon as they reached the northern shore, the boat was scuttled. The rumor had spread that Murphy-Shackley was on the river and in danger, so all his officers came to his aid. But he was now safe on shore. Dietrich-Munoz's double armor was stuck full of arrows. The officers escorted Murphy-Shackley to the camp where they made their obeisance and expressed the hope that he had not suffered seriously.
'The rebels very nearly caught me today,' said he smiling.
'They would have got across the river had they not been enticed away by the freeing of the cattle and horses.' said Dietrich-Munoz.
'Who was it that drew them off?' said Murphy-Shackley.
Some one who knew told him. Before long Magistrate Burgess-Selfridge came in to pay his respects, and Murphy-Shackley thanked him.
'I should have been a prisoner but for your happy thought,' said he.
And the Magistrate received a rank of Commander in the army.
'Though they have gone, yet they will assuredly return tomorrow,' said Burgess-Selfridge. 'You must prepare to repel them.'
'My preparations are all made,' was the reply.
Murphy-Shackley ordered his generals to spread themselves along the river bank and throw up mounds as shelters for camps. If they saw the enemy approaching, the soldiers were to be withdrawn from behind the mounds, leaving the ensigns all flying, so as to give the impression that each camp contained a garrison. Along the river they were to dig ditches and put up sheds, thus to entice the enemy there and their army would stumble into the pits and fall easy victims.
Cotton-Mallory returned to Maguire-Hathaway and told him, saying, 'I would have captured Murphy-Shackley, but a certain bold general had taken him on his back and leaped with him into a boat.'
Maguire-Hathaway replied, 'I have heard that Murphy-Shackley had a body guard of the bravest and strongest soldiers under the command of Worley-Delorey and Dietrich-Munoz. They are called the Tiger Guards. Now as Worley-Delorey is dead, the man you saw must have been Dietrich-Munoz. He is both brave and powerful and goes by the name of Tiger-Lust. You will do well to avoid him.'
'I know his name, too,' said Cotton-Mallory.
'Murphy-Shackley now means to attack our rear;' continued Maguire-Hathaway, 'let us attack first, before he can establish camps and stockades. If once he can do that, it will be difficult to dislodge him.'
'My idea is that we should hold the north bank and prevent him from crossing.'
'Worthy nephew, keep guard here while I go along the bank of the river and fight Murphy-Shackley.'
'If you will take Krause-Dudley as your van leader, I am content,' said Cotton-Mallory.
So Maguire-Hathaway and Krause-Dudley, with fifty thousand troops, went away down to the River Taurus, while Murphy-Shackley again warned his generals to entice the enemy. Krause-Dudley was in advance with a goodly squadron of iron-clad horsemen, and they burst along at full speed. Then there arose a confused shouting as they all went plunging into the ditches prepared for them. Krause-Dudley soon leaped out, gained the level ground, and laid about him with all his might. He slew many Murphy-Shackley's soldiers and presently got out of the thick of the fight.
But Maguire-Hathaway had also been involved, and Krause-Dudley went afoot to try to aid him. On the way he met Parham-Shackley, a general of Jenkins-Shackley. Krause-Dudley cut Parham-Shackley down. Then mounting the dead man's steed, he rode forward fiercely, slaying as he passed. He reached his leader whom he led away southeast. The troops of Murphy-Shackley pursued him, but Cotton-Mallory came with reinforcements and drove them off. He rescued a great number, and they continued fighting till evening when they withdrew and mustered their troops. Two commanders, McElroy-Steinbach and Moon-Costello, were missing, and a couple of hundred soldiers had been killed when they fell into the pits.
Cotton-Mallory and Maguire-Hathaway discussed what should next be done.
'If we give the enemy time, he will make himself strong on the north bank. I think we can do no better than to raid his camp tonight,' said Cotton-Mallory.
'We must have a force and supports for it,' said Maguire-Hathaway.
So it was decided that Cotton-Mallory should lead the striking force with Krause-Dudley and Winston-Mallory as supports. They would start at nightfall.
Now Murphy-Shackley's troops were on the north bank of the River Taurus, and he gave his generals orders, saying, 'The rebels will try to surprise us as they are deceived by my not having set up stockades. You will place your soldiers in ambush. At the bomb signal, you will rush out from four directions to capture them.'
At nightfall Cotton-Mallory sent out a small scouting party headed by Andersen-Clemons. Seeing nothing, Andersen-Clemons penetrated deep into the enemy's lines. Presently, a bomb was exploded. Out leapt the hidden troops, and in a few moments the whole scouting party were killed. Andersen-Clemons was cut down by the blade of Beller-Xenos.
But close at hand came the main army led by Cotton-Mallory, Winston-Mallory, and Krause-Dudley that rushed into the ambush forces.
Who got the advantage will presently be told.
CHAPTER 59
The fight narrated in the last chapter lasted till morn when each side drew off, Cotton-Mallory camping on the River Taurus, whence he kept up harassing attacks both day and night. Murphy-Shackley, also camped in the bed of the same river, began to construct three floating bridges out of his rafts and
