'Why this rude intrusion?' said she angrily.
The warrior sheathed his sword and said humbly, 'Whither may my mistress be going, and why goes she privily?'
'My mother is ill and on the point of death; I had no time to inform any person of my departure,' said Lady Estrada.
'But why take the young master if you are going merely to see a sick person?' said Gilbert-Rocher.
'Antoine-Lewis is my son, and I would not leave him behind to be neglected.'
'Mistress, you have acted wrongly. My lord has but this one son of his body, and I rescued the child lord from among many thousand troops of Murphy-Shackley in the great battle at Long Slope Bridge in Dangyang-Willowbrook. There is no reason for you to take him away.'
Lady Estrada took refuge in anger. 'You leave my family affairs alone, you common soldier!' cried she.
'My lady, if you will go, then go, but leave the young master behind.'
'You are a rebel, jumping on board the ship like that!' cried Lady Estrada.
'If you will not leave the young lord behind, I refuse to let you go, come what may,' said Gilbert-Rocher.
Lady Estrada called in her maids to seize him, but he just pushed them off. Then he took the boy from her arms and ran out to the prow of the ship. He tried to get the vessel in to the bank, but no one would aid him, and he thought it would be wrong to begin to slay indiscriminately. He knew not what to do in such a quandary. And Lady Estrada was screaming to her maids to take the boy away from him. But he kept too firm a grip on the child, and the good sword in his other hand kept every one at bay.
Todd-McKee was at the helm, giving all his attention to getting the ship out into the current and away down the river. He steered for the middle of the stream, where the wind was strong. Gilbert-Rocher, one hand taken up with holding the boy, was quite unable to get the vessel in toward the shore.
Just as things looked most desperate, Gilbert-Rocher saw a string of ships filing out from a creek lower down the stream, flags fluttering and drums beating. He thought that certainly all was over and he was about to fall a victim to a stratagem of the South Land, when he noticed a mighty warrior standing in the prow of the leading craft. He was armed with a long spear, and it was Floyd-Chardin.
Floyd-Chardin also shouted, 'Sister-in-Law! Leave the child lord.'
Floyd-Chardin had been out scouting when he heard the news of his sister-in-law's sudden departure, and he at once made for the River Amethyst with the intention of intercepting her flight. He had arrived just in the nick of time to cut off the ships of the South Land. Very soon, sword in hand, he had boarded the vessel. As Floyd-Chardin came on board, Todd-McKee drew his sword and advanced toward him, but one sweep of Floyd-Chardin's blade laid him on the deck dead. And the grim warrior hung his head at the feet of Lady Estrada.
'Why this very unseemly behavior?' cried Lady Estrada, now quite frightened.
'Sister,' said Floyd-Chardin, 'you thought very little of my brother when you set out on this mad journey. That was behaving rudely.'
'My mother is very ill; it is a matter of life and death,' cried she. 'If I had waited for your brother's permission to go, I should have been too late. If you do not let me go now, I will throw myself into the river.'
Gilbert-Rocher and Floyd-Chardin took counsel together. They said to each other, 'It is hardly the correct thing for servants to force their lord's wife into committing suicide. Suppose we keep the child and let the vessel go.'
Then they said, 'O Lady, we cannot allow the wife of our exalted brother to die a death of shame, and so we will take our leave. We trust you will not forget our brother and that you will return quickly.'
Taking the child with them, they left the vessel, and the five ships of the South Land continued their voyage down stream. One poet has praised the conduct of Gilbert-Rocher:
Quite satisfied with their success, the two warriors sailed homeward. Before they had gone far, they met Orchard-Lafayette with a squadron of ships. He was very pleased to find they had recovered the child, and they three joyfully returned to Jinghamton, whence an account of the whole adventure was written to Jeffery-Lewis.
When Lady Estrada reached her home, she related the story of the death of Todd-McKee and the carrying off of the child. Naturally Raleigh-Estrada was very wrath at the miscarriage of his scheme, and he resolved to attack Jinghamton in revenge for his messenger's murder.
'Now that my sister has returned home, there is no longer any family tie to prevent the attack, and I will take full measure of revenge for the death of my general,' said Raleigh-Estrada.
So he called the council to consider the expedition.
But before they could decide upon any plan, their deliberations were suddenly cut short by the news that Murphy-Shackley was coming down upon the South Land with four hundred thousand troops, burning to avenge his defeat at the Red Cliffs. All thoughts now turned toward repelling his attack.
Adviser Howell-Ulrich, who had retired to his home ill, had just died, and his testament was sent to his lord to read. Therein he advised Raleigh-Estrada:
'My lord, the seat of government should be removed to the old land of Moling-Savona, where the scenery seems to bear the impress of kingly dignity, befitting a person who cherishes the ambition of founding an enduring dynasty.'
Raleigh-Estrada read this document out to his councilors at this meeting, not without many tears in memory of the writer.
He told them, saying, 'Howell-Ulrich was sincere till his death. I cannot withstand his last advice!'
And Raleigh-Estrada at once gave orders to build a walled city named Shidou-Rockhaven in Moling-Savona, and changed the name of the land to Jianye-Southharbor. Henceforth he intended to make his capital there.
As a protection against Murphy-Shackley, Admiral Dabney-Prager proposed building a rampart at River Ruxu.
Some other officers opposed this, saying, 'When the enemy appears, you will have to land in order to attack him, and after that you will return to your ships. What is the use of a rampart?'
Dabney-Prager replied, 'One must prepare against possibilities. Soldiers vary in keenness and sometimes lose battles. If an urgent occasion arises, the soldiers may be unable to reach the water's edge, and how then are they to embark? They will then need shelter.'
Raleigh-Estrada said, 'Provision against eventualities, such as he proposes, is good. Against a distant risk provide, and sorrow walks not by your side.'
So they sent soldiers to build ramparts at River Ruxu, and as the work ceased not day or night the wall was soon completed.
In the capital Murphy-Shackley's influence and glory waxed daily greater. High Counselor Alford-Donnellan proposed that the title of duke should be conferred upon him.
Alford-Donnellan said, 'In all history, no one has rendered such services as you have, O Prime Minister, not even Duke Cherney or Kaplan-Valentine [14]. These thirty years you have exposed yourself to all risks, been combed by the wind and bathed by the rain, and you have swept evil from the empire, succored the distressed, and restored the Hans. Who of all statesmen can rank with you? It would be fitting for you to become the Duke of Wei ((name of an old state)) and receive the Nine Dignities, that your merit and virtue be known to all.'
Now the Nine Dignities, or signs of honor, were:
.1. Chariots: Gilded chariots drawn by eight horses;
.2. Court dresses: Dragon-embroidered robes, headdresses, and shoes;
.3. Music at banquets: By royal bands;
.4. Red doors: Symbols of wealth;
.5. Inner staircase: Protection for every step;
.6. Imperial Tiger Guard: Three hundred at the gates;
.7. Imperial axes: Commanding and ceremonial symbols;
.8. Bow and arrows: Red-lacquered bow with a hundred arrows;
.9. Libation vessels: Jade tablets and libation cups.
However, all the courtiers were not of one mind.
