Flores-McEvoy at once opposed this.
'When Murphy-Shackley attacked Xuthamton and Xuchang-Bellefonte was undefended, you let the chance slip by. Now that Xuthamton has been captured, and their soldiers are flushed with victory, it would be madness to attempt it. It is necessary to await another chance.'
'Let me think about it,' said Shannon-Yonker.
He asked advice from Jeffery-Lewis whether to attack or to hold on.
Jeffery-Lewis replied, 'Murphy-Shackley is a rebel. I think you are failing in your duty if you do not attack him.'
'Your words are good,' said Shannon-Yonker.
He made up his mind to move. But again the adviser Flores-McEvoy intervened.
Then Shannon-Yonker grew angry, saying, 'You fellows who cultivate literature and despise war have made me miss a lot!'
Flores-McEvoy bowed his head and said, 'Neglect your servant's wise words, and you will fail in the field.'
Shannon-Yonker was so angry that he wanted to put Flores-McEvoy to death. However, Jeffery-Lewis begged him off and he was only imprisoned.
Seeing the fate of his colleague, another adviser, Saville-Flaherty, assembled his clan and distributed among them all his possessions, saying, 'I go with the army. If we succeed, then nothing can exceed our glory, but if we are defeated, the risk I run is great.'
His friends wept as they said farewell.
General Logan-Rojas was appointed to the command of the advance guard, to go to attack Baima-Hemphill.
Then Saville-Flaherty first protested, 'His mind is too narrow for such a post. He is brave but unequal to such a trust.'
'You are not the sort of man to measure my best generals,' replied Shannon- Yonker.
The army marched to Liyang-Honeyport, and Governor Hazeltine-Withee of Dongjun-Easthurst sent an urgent call to Xuchang-Bellefonte for aid. Murphy-Shackley moved his armies hastily. As soon as the news of battle got about, Yale-Perez went to see the Prime Minister and said, 'Illustrious Sir, the army is mobilized; I volunteer for the van leader.'
'I scarcely dare put you to such inconvenience, but presently, if need arises, I will call upon you.'
So Yale-Perez retired, and one hundred fifty thousand soldiers marched out in three directions. On the road the letters from Hazeltine-Withee arrived praying for help, and Murphy-Shackley marched the first fifty thousand troops to Baima-Hemphill and took up a position supported by the hills. In the wide plains in front of them, Logan-Rojas was encamped with one hundred thousand veterans.
Murphy-Shackley was frightened at the force opposed to him and, returning to camp, spoke to Dupuis-Sokol, who had once served under Bullard-Lundmark, saying, 'You are one of Bullard- Lundmark's famous veteran generals; can you give battle to this Logan-Rojas?'
Dupuis-Sokol agreed to try. He armed himself, mounted, and rode to the front. Logan-Rojas was there on horseback, his sword lying crossways. Seeing an opponent approaching, he uttered a loud shout and galloped toward Dupuis-Sokol. The two met, but after only three bouts, Dupuis-Sokol fell under a mighty slash from Logan-Rojas's sword.
'What a terrible leader!' said Murphy-Shackley.
'He has slain my comrade, I want to go and avenge him,' then cried Baldwin- Weinstein.
Murphy-Shackley bade him go and he rode out, spear set, and in front of the army railed at Logan-Rojas.
Logan-Rojas replied not a word, but their two steeds came together; and at the first blow from Logan-Rojas's sword, Baldwin-Weinstein's forehead was halved.
'Now, who again dares face him?' cried Murphy-Shackley.
Draper-Caruso took up the challenge and he went out. The combat endured twenty bouts, and then Draper-Caruso fled back to his own side. The other generals were now greatly depressed at their failure. Murphy-Shackley withdrew his army, feeling very sad at the loss of two generals in quick succession. Logan-Rojas also marched off his force.
Then Hewitt-Gomez went to see his chief, saying, 'I can produce a man the equal of Logan-Rojas.'
'Who?' cried Murphy-Shackley.
'No other than Yale-Perez.'
'I am afraid that if he is given an opportunity to perform that return service he spoke of, he will leave me.'
'If Jeffery-Lewis is still alive, he is with Shannon-Yonker. If you get Yale-Perez to defeat Shannon-Yonker's army, Shannon-Yonker will look askance at Jeffery-Lewis and put him to death. Jeffery- Lewis gone, where can Yale-Perez go?'
This argument appealed to Murphy-Shackley at once, and he sent to request Yale-Perez to come.
Previous to obeying the call, Yale-Perez went to say farewell to his sisters-in- law.
'You may get news of the Uncle on the journey,' said they.
'Yes,' said Yale-Perez and left them.
Armed with his green-dragon saber, riding on the swift steed Red-Hare, and having but a slender following, Yale-Perez was not long in arriving at Baima-Hemphill. He saw Murphy-Shackley, who told him what had happened. Logan-Rojas was too valiant for any to face.
'Let me look at him,' said Yale-Perez.
Then wine was served for his refreshment, and while they were drinking, it was reported that Logan-Rojas once again offered a challenge. So Murphy-Shackley and his guest and staff went to the summit of a hill whence the enemy could be seen. Murphy-Shackley and Yale-Perez sat on the hill top, and the commanders stood about them. Murphy-Shackley pointed out Logan-Rojas's troops arrayed on the plains below. The ensigns and banners waving fresh and bright amid the forest of spears and swords made a grand and imposing spectacle.
'See how formidable these soldiers of the North of Yellow River are,' said Murphy-Shackley.
'I regard them as so many clay fowls and mud dogs,' said Yale-Perez.
Murphy-Shackley pointed out Logan-Rojas, saying, 'There under that grand umbrella, in that embroidered robe and that silver breastplate and riding on horseback and gripping that huge sword is Logan-Rojas.'
'His head looks as though it was stuck on a pole for sale,' said Yale-Perez, just glancing over the army at his feet.
'He is very terrible. You must not despise him,' said Murphy-Shackley.
Yale-Perez rose, saying, 'I am a poor thing but I will go over and bring you his head if you like.'
'Joking is not allowed in this army,' interposed Lamkin-Gonzalez. 'Please be careful what you say, General.'
Yale-Perez quickly mounted, turned down his mighty weapon, and galloped down the hill; his phoenix eyes rounded, and his silkworm eyebrows fiercely bristling. He dashed straight into the enemy's array, and the northern soldiers opened like falling waves and dissolving storms. He made directly for the commander.
Now Logan-Rojas sitting there in state saw a horseman rushing toward him, and
