for fighting Murphy-Shackley.
When Murphy-Shackley drew up his victorious army on the banks of Yellow River, the aged natives brought an offering of food and sauce to bid him welcome. Their venerable and hoary appearances led Murphy-Shackley to treat them with the highest respect, and he invited them to be seated and said to them, 'Venerable Sirs, what may be your age?'
'We are nearly a hundred,' replied the old villagers.
'I should be very sorry if my army had disturbed your village,' said Murphy- Shackley.
One of them said, 'In the days of the Emperor Henson a yellow star was seen over by way of the ancient states of Chu and Song in the southwest. Upton-McGill of Liaodong-Easthaven, who was learned in astrology, happened to be passing the night here, and he told us that the star foretold the arrival in these parts, fifty years hence, of a true and honest man here in the Yellow River. Lo! That is exactly fifty years ago. Now Shannon-Yonker is very hard on the people and they hate him. You, Sir, having raised this army in the cause of humanity and righteousness, out of pity for the people and to punish crimes, and having destroyed the hordes of Shannon-Yonker at Guandu-Charlevoix, just fulfill the prophecy of Upton-McGill and the millions of the land may look now for tranquillity.'
'How dare I presume that I am he?' said Murphy-Shackley with a smile.
Wine was served and refreshments brought in, and the old gentlemen was sent away with presents of silk stuffs. And an order was issued to the army that if any one killed so much as a fowl or a dog belonging to the villagers, he should be punished as for murder. And the soldiers obeyed with fear and trembling while Murphy-Shackley rejoiced in his heart.
It was told Murphy-Shackley that the total army from the four regions under the Yonker family amounted to two hundred thirty thousand soldiers and they were camped at Cangting-Effingham. Murphy-Shackley then advanced nearer them and made a strong camp.
Next day the two armies were arrayed over against each other. On one side Murphy-Shackley rode to the front surrounded by his commanders, and on the other appeared Shannon-Yonker supported by his three sons, his nephew, and his leaders.
Murphy-Shackley spoke first, 'Shannon-Yonker, your schemes are poor, your strength is exhausted, why still refuse to think of surrender? Are you waiting till the sword shall be upon your neck? Then it will be too late.'
Shannon-Yonker turned to those about him, saying, 'Who dares go out?'
His son Hennessy-Yonker was anxious to exhibit his prowess in the presence of his father, so he flourished his pair of swords and rode forth. Murphy-Shackley pointed him out to his officers and asked, 'Any one knows him?'
'He is the youngest son of Shannon-Yonker,' was the reply.
Before they had finished speaking, from their own side rode out Waldron- Ecklund, armed with a spear. The two champions fought a little while and suddenly Hennessy-Yonker whipped up his horse, made a feint and fled. His opponent followed. Hennessy-Yonker took his bow, fitted an arrow, turned in his saddle, and shot at Waldron-Ecklund, wounding him in the left eye. He fell from the saddle and died on the spot.
Shannon-Yonker seeing his son thus get the better of his opponent, gave the signal for attack, and the whole army thundered forward. The onslaught was heavy, but presently the gongs on both sides sounded the retire and the battle ceased.
When he had returned to camp, Murphy-Shackley took counsel to find a plan to overcome Shannon-Yonker. Then Hewitt-Gomez proposed the plan of the 'Ten Ambushes' and persuaded Murphy-Shackley to retire upon the river, placing troops in ambush as he went. Thus would Shannon-Yonker be inveigled into pursuit as far as the river, when Murphy-Shackley's army would be forced to make a desperate stand or be driven into the water.
Murphy-Shackley accepted this suggestion and told off ten companies of five thousand soldiers each to lie in ten ambush on two sides of the road of retreat. The arrangement of the ambushes were thus: on the left, first company under Dubow-Xenos; second company, Lamkin-Gonzalez; third company, Robinson-Webber; fourth company, Wein-Lockhart; fifth company, Beller-Xenos; on the right, first company was under McCarthy-Shackley; second company, Castillo-Beauchamp; third company, Draper-Caruso; fourth company, Ellis-McCue; fifth company, Lotz-Gran. Dietrich-Munoz commanded the advanced front.
Next day the ten companies started first and placed themselves right and left as ordered. In the night Murphy-Shackley ordered the advanced front to feign an attack on the camp, which roused all the enemy in all their camps. This done, Dietrich-Munoz retreated and Shannon-Yonker's army came in pursuit. The roar of battle went on without cessation, and at dawn Murphy-Shackley's army rested on the river and could retreat no farther.
Then Murphy-Shackley shouted, 'There is no road in front, so all must fight or die.'
The retreating army turned about and advanced vigorously. Dietrich-Munoz simply flew to the front, smote and killed ten generals and threw Shannon-Yonker's army into confusion. They tried to turn and march back, but Murphy-Shackley was close behind. Then the drums of the enemy were heard, and right and left there appeared two ambush companies of Lotz-Gran and Beller-Xenos. Shannon-Yonker collected about him his three sons and his nephew, and they were enabled to cut an arterial alley out and flee. Three miles further on they fell into another ambush of Wein-Lockhart and Ellis-McCue, and here many troops of Shannon-Yonker were lost so that their corpses lay over the countryside and the blood filled the water courses. Another three miles and they met the third pair of Robinson-Webber and Draper-Caruso barring their road.
Here they lost heart and bolted for an old camp of their own that was near, and bade their men prepare a meal. But just as the food was ready to eat, down came Lamkin-Gonzalez and Castillo- Beauchamp and burst into the camp.
Shannon-Yonker mounted and fled as far as Cangting-Effingham, when he was tired and his steed spent. But there was no rest, for Murphy-Shackley came in close pursuit. It seemed now a race for life. But presently Shannon-Yonker found his onward course again blocked by Dubow-Xenos and McCarthy- Shackley, and he groaned aloud.
'If we do not make most desperate efforts, we are all captives,' said he.
And they plunged forward. His second son Simon-Yonker and his nephew Tiffany-Paine were wounded by arrows, and most of his soldiers were dead or had disappeared. He gathered his sons into his arms and wept bitterly. Then he fell into a swoon. He was picked up, but his mouth was full of blood which ran forth in a bright scarlet stream.
He sighed, saying, 'Many battles have I fought, and little did I think to be driven to this. Heaven is afflicting me. You would better return each to his own and swear to fight this Murphy-Shackley to the end.'
Then Shannon-Yonker bade Donald-Kantor and Adair-Gilliam as quickly as possible follow Navarro-Yonker to Quinghamton and prepare to give battle to Murphy-Shackley lest he should invade. Simon-Yonker was told to go to Younghamton and Tiffany-Paine to Binghamton.
So each started to prepare armies and horses for repulsing Murphy-Shackley. Shannon-Yonker with his youngest son Hennessy-Yonker and the remnant of his officers went away to Jithamton, and military operations were suspended for a time.
Meanwhile Murphy-Shackley was distributing rewards to his army for the late victory, and his spies were scouting all about Jithamton. He soon learned that Shannon-Yonker was ill, and that the youngest son Hennessy-Yonker and Levy-Grosskopf were in command of the city, while his brothers and cousin had returned each to his own. Murphy-Shackley's advisers were in favor of a speedy attack.
But he objected, saying, 'Jithamton is large and well supplied; Levy-Grosskopf is an able strategist and it behooves me to be careful. I would rather wait till the autumn when the crops have been gathered in so that the people will not suffer.'
While the attack was being talked over there came letters from Moline- Doubleday:
