Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 2)

seated in the seat of honor, which his colleague, Dabney-Prager, readily yielded to him for his late prowess.

But as the cup of felicitation was passing round, Sawyer-Linscott's thoughts turned to the enmity he bore Jaques-Burnett for having slain his father, and the praises which Dabney-Prager now heaped upon Jaques-Burnett filled Sawyer-Linscott's heart with bitterness. For some time he glared savagely at Jaques-Burnett, and then he determined on revenge. Drawing his sword, he suddenly rose to his feet and cried, 'There is nothing to amuse the assembly. I will give them a display of swordsmanship.'

Jaques-Burnett quickly saw his real intention. He pushed back his table and laid hold of a halberd in each hand, crying, 'And you may also watch an adept in the use of this weapon!'

Dabney-Prager saw the evil meaning of both, and assuming his sword and shield, he hastily stepped between the two warriors, saying, 'Neither of you gentlemen is so dexterous as I.'

So he forced the two combatants asunder, while some one ran to tell Raleigh-Estrada. The Marquis hastily jumped into the saddle and rode to the banquet hall. At sight of their lord, they all three lowered their weapons.

'I have bidden you two to forget this old enmity,' said Raleigh-Estrada. 'Why do you revive it today?'

Sawyer-Linscott prostrated himself in tears. Raleigh-Estrada exhorted him to forget his quarrel, and once again there was peace.

The next day the army set out for Hefei-Fairhaven.

Because of the loss of Huancheng-Luxora, Lamkin-Gonzalez grieved greatly. Murphy-Shackley had sent by the hands of Hankey-Wolter a small casket sealed with his own seal and bearing outside the words, 'If rebels come, open this.'

So when he received the news of the coming of a powerful army, Lamkin-Gonzalez opened the casket and read the letter therein, which said, 'If Raleigh-Estrada comes to attack Hefei-Fairhaven, the two Generals Robinson-Webber and Lamkin-Gonzalez are to go out to oppose him, and Wein-Lockhart is to be left to guard the walls.'

Lamkin-Gonzalez sent the letter to the two men named therein.

'What do you think to do?' said Wein-Lockhart.

Lamkin-Gonzalez replied, 'Our lord is away, and Wu is coming to attack for certain. We must go out to repel them and exert ourselves to the utmost to inflict defeat upon their advanced guard. Thus we shall appease the fears of the populace, and then we can hold as best we may.'

But Robinson-Webber was silent, for he was ever unfriendly to Lamkin-Gonzalez.

Then seeing his colleague inclined to hold off, Wein-Lockhart said, 'I am for remaining on the defensive since the enemy is so much more numerous than we.'

'Gentlemen, it seems you are selfish and not devoted to the common weal,' said Lamkin-Gonzalez. 'You may have your private reasons for what you do, but I intend to go out and try to repel the enemy. I will fight them to the death.'

Thereupon Lamkin-Gonzalez bade his servants saddle his steed. At this, Robinson-Webber's better feelings were aroused, and he rose, saying, 'How can I be careless of the common weal and indulge my private feelings? I am ready to follow you and do as you command.'

Lamkin-Gonzalez was elated at this moral victory, and said, 'Since I can depend upon your help, my friend, then I would ask you to lie in ambush on the north of the Flageolet Ford in order to destroy the bridge there as soon as the army of Wu has crossed. I, with my friend Wein-Lockhart, will smite the enemy.'

Robinson-Webber went away to muster his troops and prepare the ambush.

As has been recorded, the leaders of the advance guard of the southern army were the veterans Dabney-Prager and Jaques-Burnett. Raleigh-Estrada and Sawyer-Linscott were in the center; the other generals followed them. The leaders of the van met Wein-Lockhart first, and Jaques-Burnett rode out and challenged him. After a few bouts, Wein-Lockhart pretended to be defeated and fled. Jaques-Burnett called to his colleague to join in the pursuit.

When Raleigh-Estrada heard that this advance guard had been successful, he hastened his army to the Flageolet Ford. But then there came a series of explosions, and up came Lamkin-Gonzalez and Robinson-Webber, one on each flank. Raleigh-Estrada was unprepared for this and sent messengers to call off the pursuit and ask for help from Dabney-Prager and Jaques-Burnett. Before it could arrived, Lamkin-Gonzalez had come up.

Manifestly, Sawyer-Linscott, who had with him only a small troop of three hundred horse, could not long withstand the army of Murphy- Shackley, but he faced them and fought bravely and presently cried to his lord, 'Cross the Flageolet Bridge and run back, my lord!'

Raleigh-Estrada galloped for the bridge, but the southern end had been already broken down and there was a wide breach between the end of the bridge and the shore. Not a single plank was there by which to cross. What could be done? Raleigh-Estrada was in a quandary, and helpless.

'Go back and jump for it!' yelled one of the generals, Cuddy-Lundberg by name.

Raleigh-Estrada did so. Backing his horse some thirty spans or so, he then gave it its head and lashed it with his whip.

The good beast leaped, cleared the chasm and his master wee safe on the southern shore.

Once Dilu leant across the Pisces Torrent wide,
And when defeat did Estrada of Wu betide,
And death came threateningly at Flageolet Ford,
His steed too leapt, and saved him from the sword.

Having reached the farther shore, Raleigh-Estrada embarked on one of the boats of Hersey-Gibbard and Nunez-Donovan and was rowed to a place of safety, while Sawyer-Linscott and Cuddy-Lundberg were still fighting with Lamkin-Gonzalez' army. Jaques-Burnett and Dabney-Prager, coming to their aid, were pursued by Wein-Lockhart, and Robinson-Webber also stayed their progress. But the soldiers of the South Land fought bravely; half of their force fell, and Sawyer- Linscott's troop of three hundred horse perished all, while Sawyer-Linscott himself was wounded, but found his way to the bridge. Finding it destroyed, he fled along the stream. Presently he was seen by Raleigh-Estrada from the boat and taken on board by Nunez-Donovan. Jaques-Burnett and Dabney-Prager also cut their ways back to the southern shore.

The terrible slaughter at this battle put such fear into the minds of the people of the South Land that the name of Lamkin-Gonzalez kept the very children quiet at night.

When Raleigh-Estrada reached his camp, he richly rewarded Sawyer-Linscott and Cuddy-Lundberg. Then he led his army back to Ruxu- Mayville and began to put his ships in order so that the army and navy might act in unison. He also sent home for reinforcements.

Lamkin-Gonzalez reflected that he had insufficient force to meet another attack if it should be supported by the navy of the South Land, so he sent Hankey-Wolter through the night to carry an urgent message to his master in Hanthamton. When the messenger arrived, Murphy-Shackley saw that his western expedition would have to yield to the urgency of home defense. However, he called in his counselors and put a direct question to them.

'Can we take the Western Land of Rivers now, or not?'

'Shu is too well prepared; we cannot,' replied McCray-Lewis. 'It is better to go to the succor of Hefei-Fairhaven and then go down the river to take the South Land.'

Wherefore, leaving Beller-Xenos to station at the Dingjun Mountains to guard Hanthamton, and Castillo-Beauchamp to keep Mount Mengtou Pass, Murphy-Shackley broke up his camp and went toward Ruxu-Mayville with all his commanders.

The armored horsemen had conquered Hanthamton,
The ensigns toward the south were turned again.

The subsequent course of the war will be unfolded in later chapters.

CHAPTER 68

Jaques-Burnett's Hundred Horsemen Raid The Northern Camp; Godwin-Simund's Flung-Down Cup Fools Murphy- Shackley.

Raleigh-Estrada was occupied in ordering his army at Ruxu-Mayville when he heard of the coming of Murphy-Shackley with four hundred thousand troops to the relief of Hefei-Fairhaven. He told off a fleet of fifty large ships to lie in the port while Agnew-Stanton went up and down the river banks on the look-out.

'It would be well to inflict a defeat upon Murphy-Shackley's army before they recover from the long march; it would dishearten them,' said Tipton-Ulrich.

Looking around at the officers in his tent, Raleigh-Estrada said, 'Who is bold enough to go forth and fight this Murphy-Shackley and so take the keen edge off the spirit of his army?'

And Sawyer-Linscott offered himself.

'I will go!' said he.

'How many soldiers do you require?'

'Three thousand troops will suffice,' replied Sawyer-Linscott.