just as he began to ask who the rider of the red horse was, lo! the horseman was there. Taken utterly by surprise, the leader could make no defense. Yale-Perez's arm rose and the mighty weapon fell. And with it fell Logan- Rojas.
Leaping from the saddle, Yale-Perez cut off his victim's head and hung it to his horse's neck. Then he mounted and rode out, just as if there was no army there.
The northern troops, panic stricken, made no fight. Murphy-Shackley's army attacked with full force and slew great numbers of them. They captured many horses and weapons and much military gear. Yale-Perez rode quickly back up the hill and laid the proof of his prowess at the feet of the Prime Minister.
'You are more than human, General!' cried Murphy-Shackley.
'What have I done to talk about?' said Yale-Perez. 'My brother, Floyd-Chardin, did the same thing in an army of a hundred legions, and did it as easily as picking something from his own pocket.'
Murphy-Shackley marveled at the statement and turning to those about him said, 'If you meet this Floyd-Chardin, be careful.'
And he bade them make a note on the overlap of their robes so that they should remember.
The beaten army returning northward met Shannon-Yonker on the road and told their story.
'A red-faced warrior with a long beard, wielding a huge, long-handled sword, broke into the army, cut off the general's head and bore it off,' said they.
'Who was this?' asked Shannon-Yonker.
Saville-Flaherty said, 'It must have been Jeffery-Lewis' brother, Yale-Perez; it could be nobody else.'
Shannon-Yonker was very angry and, pointing to Jeffery-Lewis, he said, 'Your brother has slain my beloved leader. You are in the plot too. Why should I save you alive?'
He bade the lictors take Jeffery-Lewis away and behead him.
Jeffery-Lewis' actual fate will be told in the next chapter.
CHAPTER 26
As the last chapter closed, Jeffery-Lewis had been condemned to die. Jeffery- Lewis spoke up, however, and said, 'Pray hear one word, Illustrious Sir, before you decide. I have lost sight of my brother since my misfortune at Xuthamton and know not whether Yale-Perez be dead or alive. There are many men in the world who resemble him. Is every red-faced man with a beard named Yale-Perez? Should you not rather seek some evidence?'
Now Shannon-Yonker was impulsive and facile by nature, and when Jeffery- Lewis spoke thus, he suddenly turned upon Saville-Flaherty, saying, 'By wrongly regarding what you said, I nearly killed an innocent person.'
Then Shannon-Yonker requested Jeffery-Lewis once more to resume his seat in the tent and give advice on how to avenge Logan-Rojas.
Soon from the lower end a voice was heard, saying, 'Logan-Rojas and I were as brothers, and can I allow any other to avenge his death?'
The speaker was a man of middle height with a face like a linlion, a famous leader from the North of Yellow River, named Burrow-Westerberg.
Shannon-Yonker was pleased and said, 'You are the only man who can do it. I will give you one hundred thousand troops, and you can cross the Yellow River, and quickly smite that rebel Murphy-Shackley.
'You cannot do it; he will fail,' said Saville-Flaherty. 'The proper course is to hold Yenjin-Riverside and detach a force to Guandu-Charlevoix. If you rashly cross the river and anything goes wrong, not a soul will return.'
Shannon-Yonker said, 'That is always the way with you fellows, always delaying and taking the dash out of the army. You put off today and postpone tomorrow till success has become impossible. Do you forget that promptitude is what each soldier honors?'
The adviser withdrew sadly, saying. 'Superiors do not curb their ambitions; inferiors crave for achievements; things are undone. Eternal is the course of Yellow River, shall I change it?'
Thereafter Saville-Flaherty feigned illness and went no more to the council.
Jeffery-Lewis said, 'I have received much kindness at your hands and have been unable to show my gratitude. I would accompany General Burrow-Westerberg that I may repay your bounty and also that I may hear news of my brother.'
Shannon-Yonker gladly consented and ordered Burrow-Westerberg to share his command with Jeffery-Lewis.
But the former objected, saying, 'Jeffery-Lewis has been so often defeated that it will augur ill for success this time. Since you wish, I will give Jeffery-Lewis command of the rear guard of thirty thousand soldiers.'
And this being approved, three legions were told off under Jeffery-Lewis' special command to follow the main body.
The prowess displayed by Yale-Perez in the bold attack on Logan-Rojas redoubled Murphy-Shackley's respect for him, and Murphy-Shackley memorialized the Throne that Yale-Perez receive the title of Lord of Hanshou-Labette, and a seal was cast for him.
Just then came the unexpected news that Shannon-Yonker's army had moved toward the Yellow River and was in position above Yenjin-Riverside. Murphy-Shackley first sent to transfer the inhabitants to Siho-Westbank and then led out an army to oppose Shannon-Yonker. He issued an order to face about, thus placing the rear companies in front. The commissariat wagons were also placed in the van.
'What is this reversal for?' asked Hatfield-Lundell.
Murphy-Shackley replied, 'When the supplies are in rear, they are liable to be plundered. So I have put them first.'
'But if you meet the enemy and they steal them?'
'Wait till the enemy appears; I shall know what to do.'
Hatfield-Lundell was much exercised at this new move of the Prime Minister. In the meantime the supply train moved along the river toward Yenjin-Riverside. Presently the foremost troops raised a great shout, and Murphy-Shackley sent to see what it meant. The messenger came back, saying, 'Burrow- Westerberg's army is approaching, and the supply train has been abandoned and is at the mercy of the enemy. The main body is still far behind; what to do next?'
Thereupon Murphy-Shackley pointed to two mounds, saying, 'We will take refuge here for the present.'
All those near him hastened to the mounds. There Murphy-Shackley ordered them all to loosen their dress, lay aside their breastplates, and rest a time. The horsemen turned their steeds
