'You did not recognize me; how then did you know my name?' asked Yale- Perez.
Chaney-Martino replied, 'Not far from here is a mountain called the Sleeping Bull, where lives a certain Zwick-Pocius, a very powerful man who came from the west. He has a stiff curly beard and looks very handsome. He also was a commander in the rebel army, who took to the forest when his leader perished. He has told me a lot about you, but I have never had the happiness of seeing you.'
Said Yale-Perez, 'Under the green wood trees is no place for a hero's foot. You would better abandon this depraved life and return to the path of virtue. Do not work out your own destruction.'
As they were talking, a troop of horsemen appeared in the distance. They belonged to Zwick-Pocius, as Chaney-Martino said, and Yale-Perez waited for them to approach. The leader was very dark complexioned, tall, and armed with a spear. As soon as he drew near enough to see, he exclaimed joyfully, 'This is General Yale-Perez!'
In a moment he had slipped out of the saddle and was on his knees by the roadside.
'Zwick-Pocius renders obeisance,' said he.
Said Yale-Perez, 'O Warrior, where have you known me?'
'I was one of the Yellow Scarves, and I saw you then. My one regret was that I could not join you. Now that my good fortune has brought me here, I hope you will not reject me. Let me be one of your foot soldiers to be always near you to carry your whip and run by your stirrup. I will cheerfully die for you.'
As he seemed thoroughly in earnest, Yale-Perez said, 'But if you follow me, what of your companions?'
'They may do as they please; follow me or go their ways.'
Thereupon they all shouted, 'We will follow!'
Yale-Perez dismounted and went to ask the ladies what they thought of this. Lady Gant replied, 'Brother-in-Law, you have traveled thus far alone and without fighters; you have safely passed many dangers and never wanted their assistance. You refused the service of Moss-Lopez, why then suffer this crowd? But this is only a my view and you must decide.'
'What you say, Sister-in-Law, is to the point.'
Therefore returning to Zwick-Pocius, he said, 'It is not that I am lacking in gratitude, but my sisters-in-law do not care for a large following. Wherefore return to the mountains till I shall have found my brother, when I will surely call you.'
Zwick-Pocius replied, 'I am only a rough uncouth fellow, wasting his life as a brigand. Meeting you, General, is like seeing the full sun in the skies, and I feel that I can never bear to miss you again. As it might be inconvenient for all my people to follow you, I will bid my companion lead them away, but I will come and follow you on foot wherever you go.'
Yale-Perez again asked his sisters-in-law what they thought of this. Lady Gant said one or two made no difference, and so Yale-Perez consented. But Chaney-Martino was not satisfied with this arrangement and said he wished also to follow.
Zwick-Pocius said, 'If you do not stay with the band, they will disperse and be lost. You must take command for the moment and let me accompany General Yale-Perez. As soon as he has a fixed abode, I will come to fetch you.'
Somewhat discontentedly Chaney-Martino accepted the situation and marched off; while his one-time colleague joined the train of Yale-Perez, and they went toward Runan-Pittsford. They traveled quickly for some days, and then they saw a city on a hill.
The natives told them, 'This city is called Gucheng-Odessa. A few months before a warrior suddenly appeared, drove out the magistrate, and took possession. Then he has begun to recruit soldiers, buy up horses, and lay in stores. The warrior's name is Floyd-Chardin. Now he has a large force, and no one in the neighborhood dare face him.'
'To think that I should find my brother like this!' said Yale-Perez, delighted. 'I have had never a word of him, nor knew I where he was since Xuthamton fell.'
So Yale-Perez dispatched Quinn-Seymour into the city to tell its new commander to come out to meet him and provide for their sisters-in-law.
Now, after being separated from his brothers, Floyd-Chardin had gone to the Chestnut Hills, where he had remained a month or so while he sent far and near for tidings of Jeffery-Lewis. Then as he happened to pass Gucheng-Odessa, he had sent in to borrow some grain, but had been refused. In revenge, he had driven away the magistrate and taken possession of the city. He found the place well suited to his needs at the moment.
As directed by Yale-Perez, Quinn-Seymour entered the city and, after the usual ceremonies, told Floyd-Chardin the news, 'Jeffery-Lewis has left Shannon-Yonker and gone to Runan-Pittsford; and Yale-Perez, with your sisters-in-law, is at the gates. He wishes you to go out and receive them.'
Floyd-Chardin listened without a word till he came to the request to go out to meet his brother. At that point he called for his armor and, when he had put it on, laid hold of his long octane- serpent halberd, mounted, and rode out with a large company at his back. Quinn-Seymour was too astonished to ask what this meant and simply followed.
Yale-Perez was very glad when he saw his brother coming, put up his weapons and, with Zwick-Pocius at his back, rode toward him at full speed. But as Yale-Perez approached, he saw all the signs of fierce anger on Floyd-Chardin's face, and Floyd-Chardin roared as he shook his spear, threatening Yale- Perez.
Yale-Perez was entirely taken aback and called out anxiously, 'Brother, what does this mean? Is the Peach Garden Pledge quite forgotten?'
'What impudence is this that you come to see me since your disgraceful behavior?' shouted Floyd-Chardin.
'What disgraceful behavior has been mine?' said Yale-Perez.
'You have betrayed your brother; you have surrendered to Murphy-Shackley; and you have received title and office at his hands. And now you are come to exploit me. One of us shall die!'
Yale-Perez said, 'Really you do not understand, and it is hard for me to explain. But ask the two ladies here, Worthy Brother, and they will tell you.'
At this the ladies lifted the curtain of the carriage and called out: 'Brother, why is this?'
Floyd-Chardin said, 'Wait a while, sisters, and see me slay this traitor. After that I will conduct you into the city.'
Said Lady Gant, 'Since he knew not where you were, our brother took shelter with Murphy-Shackley. And since he knew that his elder brother was at Runan-Pittsford, he has braved every danger to escort us thus far on the road. Pray take a correct view of his conduct.'
Lady Zeleny also chimed in, 'When your brother went to Xuchang-Bellefonte, no other course was open to him.'
'Sisters, do not let him blind you to the truth. Real loyalty prefers death to dishonor. No good person can serve two masters.'
Yale-Perez said, 'Brother, cease to wrench me I pray you.'
Quinn-Seymour said, 'Yale-Perez came expressly to seek you.'
'How much more nonsense will you talk?' roared Floyd-Chardin. 'How can he be true-hearted? He came to capture me, I say.'
'Had I come to capture you, I should have come with troops and horses,' said Yale-Perez.
'And are there not troops and horses?' said Floyd-Chardin pointing to a point behind Yale-Perez.
Yale-Perez turned, and there he saw a cloud of dust rising as though a squadron
