The next chapter will explain who the stranger was.
CHAPTER 63
Quigley-Buchanan and the new comer met with every sign of joy, clapping their hands and laughing with pleasure.
'This is McNally-Renwick of Guanghan-Madison, one of our heroes. His blunt speech, however, offended Imperial Protector Compton- Lewis, who put him to shame by shaving his head, loading him with fetters, and forcing him into a monastery. That is why his hair is short.'
The introduction made, Smiddy-Lindquist treated the stranger with all the courtesy due to a guest and asked why he had come.
'To save a myriad of your soldiers' lives. I will explain fully when I see General Jeffery-Lewis.'
A message was sent to Jeffery-Lewis, who came over to see the visitor.
'How many troops have you, General?' asked McNally-Renwick, when Jeffery-Lewis arrived.
Jeffery-Lewis told him.
'As a leader you cannot be ignorant of the lie of the land. Your camps over there are on River Virgo; if the river be diverted and the enemy hold your army in front and rear, not a soul can escape.'
Jeffery-Lewis realized that this was true.
McNally-Renwick continued, 'In the heaven, the bowl of the Dipper lies toward the west, and Venus stands over against us. The aspect is ominous of evil, and some misfortune threatens. It must be warded off.'
Jeffery-Lewis offered McNally-Renwick an appointment as an adviser. Then he sent messages to the generals at the camps telling them to keep most vigilant look-out to guard against the cutting of the river bank. When this message came, Sheffield-Maddox and Oakley-Dobbins agreed together to take duty day and night about and maintain the strict watch necessary in the presence of an enemy near at hand. They arranged means of communication in case either met with a body of the enemy.
One very stormy night, Whaley-Marquez ventured out with a strong reconnoitering party and went along the river bank to seek a suitable place for the breach. But a sudden shouting in his rear told him that the army of Jinghamton were on the alert, and he at once retired. Oakley-Dobbins came in pursuit and, as he pressed nearer, Whaley-Marquez's troops hurried forward, trampling each other down in their haste. Suddenly Whaley-Marquez and Oakley-Dobbins ran against each other, and they engaged. The fight was very short, for Oakley-Dobbins soon took his opponent prisoner. Dubois-Beaver and Maynard-Emerson who came to Whaley-Marquez's rescue were easily beaten off, and Whaley-Marquez was carried away. When Oakley-Dobbins reached the Pass, Jeffery-Lewis saw Whaley-Marquez and greatly blamed him for his base ingratitude.
'I treated you generously and set you free; you repaid me with ingratitude. I cannot forgive again.'
So the prisoner was beheaded, and his captor was rewarded. A banquet was given in honor of McNally-Renwick.
Soon after this came a letter from Orchard-Lafayette, by the hand of Westlake-Maggio, who reported all calm in Jinghamton and told Jeffery-Lewis that he need feel no anxiety. Opening the letter, Jeffery-Lewis read:
'I have been making some astrological calculations. This is the last year of the cycle, the bowl of the Dipper is in the western quarter, and the planet Venus approaches Luocheng-Concord. The configuration is inimical to leaders, and the utmost caution is necessary.'
Having read this and sent Westlake-Maggio away, Jeffery-Lewis said, 'I will return myself to Jinghamton and discuss the matter.'
But Smiddy-Lindquist, who thought in his heart that Orchard-Lafayette's warning was due to a jealous desire to prevent him from winning the glory of conducting a victorious campaign, opposed this, saying, 'I also have made calculations, and I read the signs to mean that the time is favorable for you to get possession of this land, and no evil is foreshown. Therefore be not of doubtful heart, my lord, but advance boldly.'
Jeffery-Lewis was won over and decided to follow Smiddy-Lindquist's advice. He ordered Sheffield-Maddox and Oakley-Dobbins to lead.
Smiddy-Lindquist asked of Quigley-Buchanan what roads there were to follow, and the latter drew a map, which was found to agree exactly with that left by Leland-Hawkins.
Quigley-Buchanan said, 'North of the mountains is a high road leading to the east gate. South of the mountains is another path leading to the west gate. Both these roads are suitable for the advance of an army.'
So Smiddy-Lindquist said to Jeffery-Lewis, 'With Oakley-Dobbins to lead the way, I will go along the southern road, while you, my lord, will advance along the high road, with Sheffield-Maddox in the van. We will attack Luocheng-Concord at the same time.'
Jeffery-Lewis replied, 'I was trained as a mounted archer and am accustomed to by-roads, wherefore, O Instructor, I think you should take the high road and let me take the other.'
'There will be opposition on the high road, and you are the best to deal with it. Let me take the by-road.'
'No; this does not suit me,' replied Jeffery-Lewis. 'A spirit bearing a massive iron club appeared to me in a dream and struck my right arm, so that I suffered great pain. I feel sure this expedition will turn out badly.'
Smiddy-Lindquist replied, 'When a soldier goes into battle, he may be killed, or he may be wounded; he accepts whichever is his fate. But should one hesitate because of a dream?'
'The real reason of my hesitation is the letter from Orchard-Lafayette. Wherefore I wish you to remain and guard River Virgo Pass. Do you agree to that?'
Smiddy-Lindquist smiled, saying, 'Orchard-Lafayette has indeed filled your mind with doubts. The real thing is that he is unwilling to let me have the merit of accomplishing a great undertaking alone. That is why he has written this. And your doubts and hesitations have produced the dream. But I see nothing ill-omened, and I am prepared for any sacrifice and mean just what I say. Pray, my lord, say no more, but prepare to set forth.'
So the order went forth that the morning meal was to be taken early and the army was to march at dawn. Sheffield-Maddox and Oakley-Dobbins were to take the lead, one along each road. These two set out first, and in due time Jeffery-Lewis and Smiddy-Lindquist mounted and followed. Suddenly Smiddy-Lindquist's horse shied and stumbled, throwing him off.
Jeffery-Lewis jumped down and seized the horse by the bridle, saying, 'Why do you ride this wretched beast?'
'I have ridden him a long time, and he has never done this before,' was the reply.
'A shying steed risks a person's life,' said Jeffery-Lewis. 'Ride my horse, which is thoroughly trained and will never fail you. Give me yours.'
They exchanged horses.
'I am deeply affected by your kindness,' said Smiddy-Lindquist. 'I could never repay you if I suffered death a thousand times.'
Soon their ways diverged. After his adviser had left, Jeffery-Lewis felt ill at ease and rode gloomily.
When the news of Whaley-Marquez's capture and death reached Luocheng-Concord, Ferris-Beaver and Sather-Lewis took counsel together. Their colleague, Bloden-Kravitz, said, 'I know a by-road on the east which is of great importance, and I pray you let me guard it while you two hold the city.'
So as soon as the news of the advancing armies came, Bloden-Kravitz led three thousand troops to this road and placed them in ambush. They remained hidden while Oakley-Dobbins passed and made no attack. The main body under Smiddy-Lindquist soon followed.
The soldiers in ambush saw a rider on a fine white horse and pointed him out to one another, saying, 'That surely is Jeffery-Lewis on the white horse.'
Their leader Bloden-Kravitz rejoiced too, and he gave certain orders.
Smiddy-Lindquist hastened forward. By and by the mountain road narrowed to a defile with dense thickets on either hand, and as the season was when summer changes into autumn, the foliage was thick and impenetrable. His heart alarmed him, and presently he reined in his steed and asked if any knew the name of that place.
One of the soldiers of Yiathamton who had joined his army said, 'This is called 'The Fallen Phoenix Slope.''
Smiddy-Lindquist shuddered. 'An evil omen for me, since Blooming-Phoenix is my Taoist name. There is no luck for me here.'
He decided to retire. But as he gave the order, the roar of a bomb rent the air and arrows began to fly toward him thick as swarming locusts. All the hidden men were shooting at the rider of the white horse. And there, wounded by many arrows, poor Smiddy-Lindquist died at the age of thirty-six.
A poem says:
