Murphy-Shackley now gave orders to attack Jithamton.
The following chapter will tell who won the next campaign.
CHAPTER 31
Murphy-Shackley lost no time in taking advantage of Shannon-Yonker's flight, but smote hard at the retreating army. Shannon-Yonker without helmet or proper dress, and with few followers, crossed hastily to the north bank at Liyang-Honeyport. He was met by one of his generals, Leake-Travis, who took him in and comforted him and listened to the tale of misfortunes. Next Leake-Travis called in the scattered remnants of the army, and when the soldiers heard that their old lord was alive they swarmed to him like ants so that Shannon-Yonker quickly became strong enough to attempt the march to Jithamton. Soon the army set out and at night halted at Boxelder Hills.
That evening, sitting in his tent, Shannon-Yonker seemed to hear a far off sound of lamentation. He crept out quietly to listen and found it was his own soldiers telling each other tales of woe. This one lamented an elder brother lost, that one grieved for his younger brother abandoned, a third mourned a companion missing, a fourth, a relative cut off. And each beat his breast and wept. And all said, 'Had he but listened to Flores-McEvoy, we had not met this disaster.'
And Shannon-Yonker, very remorseful, said, 'I did not hearken unto Flores- McEvoy, and now my soldiers have been beaten and I was nearly lost. How can I return and look him in the face?'
Next day the march was resumed, and Shannon-Yonker met Olivant-Robertson with reinforcements, to whom he said, 'I disregarded Flores-McEvoy's advice and have brought myself to defeat. Now shall I be greatly ashamed to look him in the face.'
This tribute to Flores-McEvoy's prescience roused the jealousy of Olivant- Robertson, who replied, 'Yes; when he heard the news of your defeat, though he was a prisoner, he clapped his hands for joy and said, 'Indeed, just as I foretold!''
'How dare he laugh at me, the blockhead? Assuredly he shall die,' said Shannon-Yonker.
Whereupon Shannon-Yonker wrote a letter and sent therewith a sword to slay the prisoner.
Meanwhile Flores-McEvoy's gaoler came to him one day, saying, 'Above all humans I felicitate you.'
'What is the joyful occasion and why felicitate?' said Flores-McEvoy.
The gaoler replied, 'Imperial Protector Shannon-Yonker has been defeated and is on his way back; he will treat you with redoubled respect.'
'Now am I a dead man!' said Flores-McEvoy.
'Why say you that, Sir, when all people give you joy?'
'The Imperial Protector appears liberal, but he is jealous and forgetful of honest advice. Had he been victorious, he might have pardoned me; now that he has been defeated and put to shame, I may not hope to live.'
But the gaoler did not believe Flores-McEvoy. Before long came the letter and the sword with the fatal order. The gaoler was dismayed, but the victim said, 'I knew all too well that I should have to die.'
The gaoler wept. Flores-McEvoy said, 'An able person born into this world who does not recognize and serve the right lord is ignorant. Today I die, but I am not deserving of pity.'
Whereupon he cut his throat in the prison.
Thus died Flores-McEvoy, pitied of all who heard of his fate. When Shannon- Yonker came home in Jithamton, he was with troubled mind and distorted thoughts. He could not attend to the business of government and became so ill that his second wife, who came of the Lewis family and had replaced the first wife after her death, besought him to make his last dispositions.
Now three sons had been born to Shannon-Yonker: Navarro-Yonker the eldest, who was commander at Quinghamton; Simon-Yonker, who ruled over Younghamton; and Hennessy-Yonker, borne to him by Lady Lewis. This youngest son was very handsome and noble looking, and his father's favorite. So he was kept at home.
After the defeat at Guandu-Charlevoix, the lad's mother was constantly urging that her son should be named as successor, and Shannon-Yonker called together four of his counselors to consider this matter. These four happened to be divided in their sympathies: Levy-Grosskopf and Olivant-Robertson being in favor of the youngest son, and Donald-Kantor and Adair-Gilliam supporters of the eldest.
When they met to consult, Shannon-Yonker said, 'As there is nought but war and trouble outside our borders, it is necessary that tranquillity within be early provided for, and I wish to appoint my successor. My eldest son is hard and cruel, my second is mild and unfit. The third has the outward form of a hero, appreciates the wise, and is courteous to his subordinates. I wish him to succeed, but I wish that you tell me your opinions.'
Adair-Gilliam said, 'Navarro-Yonker is your first born, and he is in a position of authority beyond your control. If you pass over the eldest in favor of the youngest, you sow the seeds of turbulence. The prestige of the army has been somewhat lowered and enemies are on our border. Should you add to our weakness by making strife between father and son, elder and younger brothers? Rather consider how the enemy may be repulsed and turn to the question of the heirship later.'
Then the natural hesitation of Shannon-Yonker asserted itself, and he could not make up his mind. Soon came news that his sons Navarro-Yonker was coming from Quinghamton with sixty thousand troops, Simon-Yonker coming from Younghamton with fifty thousand troops, and his nephew Tiffany- Paine coming from Binghamton with fifty thousand troops to help him, and he turned his attention to preparations
