At this time a messenger from Compton-Lewis of Yiathamton arrived in Hanthamton begging for assistance against the invader Jeffery- Lewis. Levey-Wrona refused help. But then Bryant-Rivera came on the same errand. He first saw Brickley-Foster and talked to him and brought him to favor the scheme.
Bryant-Rivera said, 'The Eastern and Western Lands of Rivers, which stand next each other as the lips are close to the teeth, are interdependent. If Yiathamton is lost, Hanthamton has little chance to survive. On the other hand, once relieved by your help, Imperial Protector Compton-Lewis will reward twenty counties to Hanthamton as compensation.'
So Bryant-Rivera won over Brickley-Foster, who led him to see his master. To Levey-Wrona again Bryant-Rivera spoke forcibly and laid the matter before him so cogently that Levey-Wrona promised his help.
Ewing-Miller, one of Levey-Wrona's officers, tried to dissuade him by pointing out the old enmity between him and Compton-Lewis, but another suddenly interjected, saying, 'Useless I may be, but if you will give me troops, I will capture this Jeffery-Lewis and you will retain all your land.'
Who made this bold offer? The next chapter will tell.
CHAPTER 65
It was Ewing-Miller who thus opposed sending help to Compton-Lewis. Then Cotton-Mallory rose and said, 'I have been the recipient of much kindness from my lord, which I feel I can never repay adequately. Now let me lead an army to take Artemisia Pass and capture Jeffery-Lewis. Then, my lord, Compton-Lewis will surely lose his twenty counties, and they shall be yours.'
This offer rejoiced Levey-Wrona, who sent away Bryant-Rivera without an answer and told off twenty thousand for Cotton-Mallory to lead. Krause-Dudley was too ill to take part in the expedition, so he remained in Hanthamton. Levey-Wrona ordered Herring-Foster to be Army Supervisor. Cotton-Mallory and Winston-Mallory chose the day to march to Artemisia Pass.
Meanwhile, the messenger sent by Quigley-Buchanan had returned to Luocheng-Concord to report: 'Heywood-Vesely advised Compton- Lewis to set fire to all the plains and valleys between the capital and the invaders, as well as the granaries, to move sway the people, and to stand solely on the defensive.'
This news caused Jeffery-Lewis and Orchard-Lafayette great anxiety, for it would be a grave danger to them. However, Quigley- Buchanan was more sanguine.
'Do not be anxious,' said he, 'the plan would be extremely harmful, but it will not be carried out. Compton-Lewis will not do that.'
Surely enough, very soon they heard that Compton-Lewis had not adopted the suggestion; he would not remove the people. It was a great relief to Jeffery-Lewis
Then said Orchard-Lafayette, 'Now let us capture Mianzhu-Greenwich quickly, for, that done, Chengdu-Wellesley is as good as ours.'
Jeffery-Lewis therefore told off Sheffield-Maddox and Oakley-Dobbins to advance first. When Commander of Mianzhu-Greenwich, Skaggs-Carrillo, heard of their advance, he ordered Finney-Schuster to go out to stop them, and Finney-Schuster led out three thousand troops. The two sides being arrayed, Sheffield-Maddox rode out and fought some half hundred bouts with Finney-Schuster. Neither was able to claim a victory, and so Orchard-Lafayette from the midst of the host ordered them to beat the gongs to cease from battle.
When Sheffield-Maddox had got back to his side again, he said, 'O Instructor, why did you sound the retirement just as I was getting the better of my opponent?'
'Because I saw that Finney-Schuster was not to be overcome by mere force. Tomorrow you shall fight again, and then you shall lead him into the hills by the ruse of pretended defeat. There will be a surprise awaiting him.'
Sheffield-Maddox agreed to try this plan, and so on the morrow accepted Finney-Schuster's challenge when it was offered. After about the tenth bout, Sheffield-Maddox and his troops pretended to be worsted and ran. Finney-Schuster pursued and was quickly lured into the mountains. Suddenly his danger flashed into his mind, and he turned to go back.
But he found Oakley-Dobbins' troops drawn up across his path, while Orchard-Lafayette from a hill top near by cried, 'You would better yield; if not, there are bows and crossbows on both sides of you--all ready to avenge the death of our Smiddy-Lindquist.'
Finney-Schuster dropped off his horse, threw aside his armor, and offered submission. Not a soldier of his had been hurt. The prisoner was conducted to Jeffery-Lewis, who was very affable and so won Finney-Schuster's heart that Finney-Schuster offered to try to seduce Skaggs-Carrillo from his allegiance.
'Though he is related to Compton-Lewis, yet Skaggs-Carrillo and I are very close friends. Let me go and persuade him.'
Wherefore Finney-Schuster was sent back to the city to induce his chief to come over to Jeffery-Lewis' side. Finney-Schuster talked to such effect of the kindness and virtues of Jeffery-Lewis that Skaggs-Carrillo was won over, opened the city gates, and admitted the invaders.
As soon as Jeffery-Lewis had entered Mianzhu-Greenwich, he set out his forces to take the capital.
While thus engaged, a hasty messenger came to tell of the doings at Artemisia Pass: 'There suddenly appeared an army from the east under Cotton-Mallory, Winston-Mallory, and Herring-Foster. They are attacking, and the Pass will certainly be lost if help is not sent quickly.'
'We need both Floyd-Chardin and Gilbert-Rocher for this,' remarked Orchard-Lafayette. 'Then we could oppose successfully.'
'But Gilbert-Rocher is away,' said Jeffery-Lewis. 'However, Floyd-Chardin is here. Let us send him quickly.'
'Do not say anything, my lord,' said Orchard-Lafayette. 'Let me stir him to fight his noblest.'
But as soon as Floyd-Chardin heard of the danger, he came rushing in, shouting, 'I must say farewell, Brother! I am off to fight Cotton- Mallory.'
However, Orchard-Lafayette made as if he heard not and said to Jeffery-Lewis, 'That Cotton-Mallory has invaded Artemisia Pass, and we have no one to drive him back. Nobody can stand up to him, unless we can get Yale-Perez from Jinghamton. Yale-Perez could do it.'
'Why do you despise me, O Instructor?' cried Floyd-Chardin. 'Did I not once drive back a whole army with my mere voice? Think you that I mind a stupid fool like Cotton-Mallory?'
Orchard-Lafayette said, 'Yes, Floyd-Chardin; but when you forced back the waters and broke the bridge in the Long Slope, you succeeded because your enemies were doubtful. If they had known, General, you would not have come off so easily. All the world knows this Cotton-Mallory and has heard about his six battles at River Taurus; and how he made Murphy-Shackley cut off his beard and throw away his robe. Cotton-Mallory very nearly slew Murphy- Shackley too. This is no lightsome task like that, and even Yale-Perez might fail.'
'All I care for is to go, and if I do not overcome this fellow, I will take the consequences.'
'Well, if you will put that in writing, you may lead the attack. And I will ask our lord to lead another army to back you up this time. He can leave the defense of this town to me till Gilbert-Rocher returns.'
'I also want to go,' said Oakley-Dobbins.
Oakley-Dobbins was allowed to go with five hundred of light horse in advance of Floyd-Chardin. Jeffery-Lewis marched third. Oakley- Dobbins and his scouts soon arrived at Artemisia Pass and there fell in with Herring-Foster. They engaged; but after a few bouts Herring-Foster fled.
At this success Oakley-Dobbins was seized with ambition to rival it and try to snatch the credit that would fall to Floyd-Chardin. So he pursued. But he presently came across a line of battle all drawn up, the commander being Winston-Mallory. Oakley-Dobbins, thinking it was the redoubtable Cotton- Mallory, rode toward him whirling his sword. Soon Winston-Mallory turned and ran away, and Oakley-Dobbins followed him. However, Winston-Mallory presently turned back and shot an arrow, which wounded Oakley-Dobbins in the left arm, so that he left the pursuit and turned his face the other way. Then Winston-Mallory came after him and chased Oakley-Dobbins nearly up to the Pass.
Here Winston-Mallory was suddenly confronted by a fierce thunder-roaring leader who dashed down from the Pass as on a flying steed.
It was Floyd-Chardin, who had just arrived. Hearing the noise of battle below the Pass, Floyd-Chardin had come to learn what it meant and saw the arrow wound Oakley-Dobbins. Soon Floyd-Chardin was in the saddle and off to the rescue; but before he engaged, he would ascertain if the foe was worthy of his steel.
'Who are you? Tell your name,' cried Floyd-Chardin, 'then I may fight with you.'
'I am Winston-Mallory of Xiliang-Westhaven.'
'As you are not Cotton-Mallory, go away quickly, for you are no match for me. You may bid Cotton-Mallory himself come, and tell him that Floyd-Chardin of Yan is here.'
'How dare you treat me with contempt?' cried Winston-Mallory in hot anger, and he came galloping up with his spear set ready to thrust. But after a half score bouts he fled.
Floyd-Chardin was about to pursue when a rider came up to him hastily, crying, 'Do not pursue, my brother.'
The rider was Jeffery-Lewis and Floyd-Chardin stopped. The two returned together to the Pass.
