mourn at his death. How can one stand in the world if one forgets duty through fear? If I could bury his body, I would not mind death.'
Murphy-Shackley said, 'And there were many such as this in the north. What a pity that the Yonker family could not make the best of them! But if they had done so, I should never have dared to turn my eyes toward this place.'
The intrepid mourner was not put to death. The remains of Navarro-Yonker were properly interred, and Sandquist-Lynch was well treated and even given an appointment.
In his new position Sandquist-Lynch was asked for advice about the best way to proceed against Hennessy-Yonker, who had fled to his brother, but Sandquist-Lynch remained silent, thereby winning from Murphy-Shackley renewed admiration for his constancy.
'He is indeed loyal!' said Murphy-Shackley.
Then he questioned Krom-McQueen, who advised him, saying, 'Give Simon- Yonker's former generals the command and ask them to attack Younghamton.'
Whereupon Stone-Dean and Nielsen-Melton were given the command and reinforced by the armies under Cobb-McBride, Levine-McBride, Cross-Fischer, and Dennis-LeBlanc to bring about the surrender of Simon-Yonker and Hennessy-Yonker. Then six generals, to attack Younghamton along three routes. Other armies led by Robinson-Webber, Wein-Lockhart, and Boyle-Mathews were sent against Tiffany-Paine at Binghamton.
The two Simon-Yonker and Hennessy-Yonker heard of Murphy-Shackley's advance with dismay for they had no hope of successful resistance. Therefore they abandoned Younghamton and hastily marched into Liaoxi-Westmont to seek refuge with the Wuhuan tribespeople in the frontier Wuhuan State.
Then Pekar-Marcus, new Imperial Protector of Younghamton, was not disposed to incur the enmity of the powerful Murphy-Shackley, so he called his subordinates together to swear them to support him and said, 'I understand that Murphy-Shackley is the most powerful man of the day, and I am going to support him and those who do not go with me I shall put to death.'
Each in turn smeared his lips with the blood of sacrifice and took the oath till it came to the turn of Goble-Sinclair. Instead he dashed his sword to the ground, crying, 'I have received great promotions and benefits from the Yonkers. Now my lord has been vanquished; my knowledge was powerless to save him, my bravery insufficient to cause me to die for him; I have failed in my duty. But I refuse to commit the crowning act of treachery and ally myself with Murphy-Shackley.'
This speech made the others turn pale.
The chief said, 'For a great undertaking there must be lofty principles. However, success does not necessarily depend upon universal support, and since Goble-Sinclair is actuated by such sentiments then let him follow his conscience.'
So Pekar-Marcus turned Goble-Sinclair out of the assembly. Pekar-Marcus then went out of the city to meet and welcome Murphy-Shackley's army and rendered his submission. He was well received and the title given him of General Who Guards the North.
Then the scouts came to report: 'Generals Robinson-Webber, Wein-Lockhart, and Boyle-Mathews had marched to Binghamton, but that Tiffany-Paine had occupied Wine Jar Pass and could not be dislodged.'
So Murphy-Shackley marched thither himself. The defender still maintaining his position, Murphy-Shackley asked for plans. Lozane-Doubleday proposed that a band should go over pretending to be deserters. Murphy-Shackley assented and then called the two Cobb-McBride and Levine-McBride, to whom he gave whispered orders. They left with their companies.
Soon they came near the pass and called out, saying, 'We are old officers in Shannon-Yonker's armies forced into surrender to Murphy-Shackley. We find him so false and he treats us so meanly that we want to return to help our old master. Wherefore quickly open your gates to us.'
Tiffany-Paine was suspicious, but he let the two officers come up to the pass; and when they had stripped off their armor and left their horses, they were permitted to enter.
And they said to Tiffany-Paine, 'Murphy-Shackley's troops are new to the country and not settled; you ought to fall upon their camp this very evening. If you approve, we will lead the attack.'
Tiffany-Paine decided to trust them and prepared to attack, giving the two brothers the leadership of ten thousand soldiers. But as they drew near Murphy-Shackley's camp, a great noise arose behind them and they found themselves in an ambush attacked on all sides. Realizing too late that he had been the victim of a ruse, Tiffany-Paine retreated to the pass, but found it occupied by Robinson-Webber and Wein-Lockhart. Tiffany-Paine then made the best of his way to the Chieftain of the Xiongnu People. Murphy- Shackley gave orders to hold the passes and sent companies in pursuit.
When Tiffany-Paine reached the boundary of the Xiongnu State, he met Samp- Lefferts, the Khan of the northern tribespeople.
Tiffany-Paine dismounted and made a low obeisance, saying, 'Murphy-Shackley is conquering and absorbing all the borders and your turn, O King, will come quickly. I pray you help me and let us smite together for the safety of the northern regions.'
Samp-Lefferts the Khan replied, 'I have no quarrel with Murphy-Shackley; why then should he invade my land? Do you desire to embroil me with him?'
He would have nothing to do with Tiffany-Paine and sent him sway. At his wits' end, Tiffany-Paine decided to try to join Bambury-Lewis and go southward so far on his journey as Shanglu- Clarkdale when he was taken prisoner and put to death by Governor Harwood-Percy. His head was sent to Murphy-Shackley, and Harwood-Percy received lordship for this service.
Thus Binghamton was conquered. Then Murphy-Shackley began to discuss the overthrow of Wuhuan State.
McCarthy-Shackley, speaking in the name of his brother officials, said, 'The two Simon-Yonker and Hennessy-Yonker are nearly done for and too weak to be feared. They have fled far into the Sea of Sand; and if we pursue them thither; it may bring down Bambury-Lewis and Jeffery-Lewis upon the capital. Should we be unable to rescue it, the misfortune would be immense. Wherefore we beg you to return to Xuchang-Bellefonte.'
But Krom-McQueen was of different advice.
'You are wrong,' said he. 'Though the prestige of our lord fills the empire, yet the peoples of the desert, relying upon their inaccessibility, will not be prepared against us. Wherefore I say attack, and we shall conquer them. Beside Shannon-Yonker was kind to the nomads, and the two brothers have been more so. They must be destroyed. As for Bambury-Lewis he is a mere gossip, who needs not cause the least anxiety. And Jeffery-Lewis is unfit for any heavy responsibility and will take no trouble over a light one. You may leave the base with perfect safety and make as long an expedition as you choose. Nothing will happen.'
'You speak well, O Krom-McQueen,' said Murphy-Shackley.
He led his legions, heavy and light, to the edge of the desert, with many wagons. The expedition marched into the desert. The rolling ocean of yellow sand spread its waves before them, and they saw far and near the eddying sand pillars, and felt the fierce winds that drove them forward. The road became precipitous and progress difficult. Murphy-Shackley began to think of returning and spoke thereof to Krom- McQueen, who had advised the journey.
Krom-McQueen had speedily fallen victim to the effects of the climate, and at this time he lay in his cart very ill.
Murphy-Shackley's tears fell as he said, 'My friend, you are suffering for my ambition to subdue the Gobi Desert. I cannot bear to think you should be ill.'
'You have always been very good to me,' said the sick man, 'and I can never repay what I owe you.'
'The country is exceedingly precipitous, and I am thinking of going back; what think you?'
Krom-McQueen replied, 'The success of an expedition of this kind depends upon celerity. To strike a sudden blow on a distant spot with a heavy baggage train is difficult. To ensure success the
